U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Form 40-F
[Check one]
o Registration statement pursuant to section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or
þ Annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 Commission File Number 001-133354
BANK OF MONTREAL
Not Applicable(Translation of Registrant’s name into English (if applicable))
Canada(Province or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
6029(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number (if applicable))
Not Applicable(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number (if applicable))
100 King Street West, 1 First Canadian Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5X 1A1 (416-867-6785)(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Paul V. Reagan, Bank of Montreal, 111 West Monroe Street, P.O. Box 755, Chicago, Illinois60690 (312-461-3167)(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code)of agent for service in the United States)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Not Applicable
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: Not Applicable
For annual reports, indicate by check mark the information filed with this Form:
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by filing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). If “Yes” is marked, indicate the filing number assigned to the Registrant in connection with such Rule.
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
a. Disclosure controls and procedures.
Based on the evaluation by the Bank’s management as of October 31, 2004 of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Bank’s disclosure controls and procedures conducted by and under the supervision of the management of the Bank, including the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Bank of Montreal’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Bank’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Bank in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.
b. Changes in internal control over financial reporting.
There were no changes in the Bank’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation by the Bank’s management or otherwise that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Bank’s internal control over financial reporting.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The information provided under the heading “AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION – Composition of the Audit Committee” (page 14) identifying the Audit Committee Financial Experts, and confirming the independence of the Audit Committee Financial Experts, as set forth in the Bank’s ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM (dated December 14, 2004), filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F, is incorporated by reference herein.
CODE OF ETHICS
The Bank has adopted the Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers applicable to the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accountant and other persons who perform similar functions within the Bank from time to time, whether as a result of a change in title or delegation or transfer of responsibilities. The Code, filed as Exhibit 99.8 to this annual report on Form 40-F, is incorporated by reference herein.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information provided under the heading “AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION – Shareholders’ Auditors’ Service Fees” (page 14) as set forth in the Bank’s ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM (dated December 14, 2004), filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F, is incorporated by reference herein. The Audit Committee pre-approves all services to be performed for the Bank or its subsidiaries by the Shareholders’ Auditors in accordance with the Bank’s Auditor Independence Policy.
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OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
The information provided under the heading “Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements” (page 53) contained in Management’s Discussion and Analysis as set forth in the Bank’s Annual Report 2004, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F, is incorporated by reference herein.
TABULAR DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The information provided under the heading “Supplemental Information – Table 24 Contractual Obligations” (page 81) as set forth in the Bank’s Annual Report 2004, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to this annual report on Form 40-F, is incorporated by reference herein.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The information provided under the heading “AUDIT COMMITTEE INFORMATION – Composition of the Audit Committee” (page 14) identifying the Bank’s Audit Committee and confirming the independence of the Audit Committee as set forth in the Bank’s ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM (dated December 14, 2004), filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this annual report on Form 40-F, is incorporated by reference herein.
UNDERTAKING
Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to the securities in relation to which the obligation to file an annual report on Form 40-F arises or transactions in said securities.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 40-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Registrant: Bank of Montreal
Date: December 14, 2004
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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