SCHWAB CHARLES CORP — M&A Activity 2011

Mar 21, 2011

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 18, 2011

The Charles Schwab Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Commission File Number: 1-9700

Delaware	94-3025021
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

211 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(415) 667-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events

On March 21, 2011, The Charles Schwab Corporation (“Schwab”) and optionsXpress Holdings, Inc. (“optionsXpress”) issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 18, 2011, by and among Schwab, Neon Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Schwab, and optionsXpress. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Additional Information

In connection with the proposed transaction, Schwab will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement/prospectus for the stockholders of optionsXpress. optionsXpress will mail the final proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders. Investors and security holders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction and other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available because they will contain important information. Copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction may be obtained, free of charge, at the SEC’s website ( http://www.sec.gov ). These documents, when available, may also be obtained, free of charge, from Schwab’s website, www.aboutschwab.com/investor , under the tab “Financials and SEC Filings” or from optionsXpress’ website, www.optionsXpress.com/investor , under the item “SEC Filings”.

Schwab, optionsXpress and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the optionsXpress stockholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of optionsXpress in connection with the proposed transaction will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information about Schwab’s executive officers and directors is available in Schwab’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2011 and Schwab’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 30, 2010. Information about optionsXpress’ executive officers and directors is available in optionsXpress’ definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 15, 2010. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Schwab and optionsXpress using the contact information above.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)	Exhibits
99.1	Press Release, dated March 21, 2011

Signature(s)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

/s/ Joseph R. Martinetto
Joseph R. Martinetto Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated March 21, 2011