<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Bitstream, Inc.
---------------
Name of Issuer
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share Class A
----------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
091736-10-8
-----------
(CUSIP Number)
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [_]
Page 1 of 8 Pages
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- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 091736-10-8 13G PAGE 2 OF 8 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
BankBoston Corporation
(04-2471221)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Holding Company-Massachusetts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF 382,608
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
0
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING 382,608
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
0
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
382,608
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
[_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
6.0%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
HC
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
- ----------------------- ---------------------
CUSIP NO. 091736-10-8 13G PAGE 3 OF 8 PAGES
- ----------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
1 I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
BancBoston Ventures Inc.
(04-6013165)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
2 (a) [_]
(b) [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEC USE ONLY
3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
Massachusetts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF 382,608
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
0
OWNED BY
-----------------------------------------------------------
EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING 382,608
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
0
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
382,608
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
10
[_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
11
6.0%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
12
IV
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
<PAGE>
Page 4 of 8 Pages
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G UNDER THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Item 1.
(a) Name of Issuer: Bitstream Inc.
--------------
(b) Address of Issuer's 215 First Street
-------------------
Principal Executive Cambridge, MA 02142
-------------------
Office:
------
Item 2.
(a) Name of Person BankBoston Corporation
-------------- on its own behalf as indirect owner and on
Filing: behalf of its subsidiary, BancBoston
------ Ventures
(b) Address of Principal 100 Federal Street
-------------------- Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Business Office or, if
----------------------
none, Residence:
---------------
(c) Citizenship: Holding Company - Massachusetts
----------- Investment Company - Massachusetts
(d) Title Class of
--------------
Securities: Common, $.01 Par Value Class A
----------
(e) CUSIP Number: 091736-10-8
------------
Item 3.
This statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b). The persons filing are
a parent holding company, in accordance with Reg. section 240.13d-
1(b)(ii)(G), and a bank, in accordance with Reg. section 240.13d-
1(b)(ii)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Item 4. Ownership:
---------
(a) Amount Beneficially
-------------------
Owned: See Item 9, Cover Page
-----
(b) Percent of Class: See Item 11, Cover Page
----------------
(c) Number of Shares as to Which
----------------------------
Such Person Has
---------------
(i) Sole Power to Vote or to Direct the vote
(ii) Shared Power to Vote or to Direct the vote
(iii) Sole Power to Dispose or Direct the Disposition of:
(iv) Shared Power to Dispose to or Direct the Disposition of:
For (c), see Item 5-8, Cover Page
4
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Page 5 of 8 Pages
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or less of a Class.
--------------------------------------------
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be beneficial
owner of more than five percent of the class of securities,
check the following [_].
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Not Applicable.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which has
-------------------------------------------------------------
Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding
-------------------------------------------------------------
Company:
-------
Investment company as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Member of the Group.
--------------------------------------------------------
Not Applicable.
Item 10. CERTIFICATION:
-------------
See Exhibit A
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the
ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for
the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control
of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired and are not held
in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such
purpose or effect.
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
completed and correct.
Date: February 13, 1998
BankBoston Corporation
By: /s/ Robert T. Jefferson
---------------------------
Name: Robert T. Jefferson
-------------------------
Print
Title: Comptroller
------------------------
5
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Page 6 of 8 Pages
BancBoston Ventures Inc.
By: /s/ Zackery Edmonds
---------------------------
Name: Zackery Edmonds
-------------------------
Print:
Title: Treasurer, BancBoston Ventures Inc.
-------------------------------------
6
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Page 7 of 8 Pages
EXHIBIT A
---------
AGREEMENT
The undersigned hereby agree, pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(f)(1) that
BankBoston Corporation may file a Schedule 13G pursuant to Rule 13d-1 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and all amendments to such Schedule, with
respect to shares of Bitstream Inc. Common Stock, $.01 Par Value Class A, on
behalf of itself and BancBoston Ventures.
Dated: February 13, 1998
BankBoston Corporation
By: /s/ Robert T. Jefferson
---------------------------------
Robert T. Jefferson
Comptroller
7
<PAGE>
Page 8 of 8 Pages
BancBoston Ventures Inc.
By: /s/ Zackery Edmonds
-------------------------------
Name: Zackery Edmonds
-----------------------------
Print:
Title: Treasurer, BancBoston Ventures Inc.
------------------------------------
INCUMBENCY CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
I, the undersigned, Timothy A. Gerhold, Assistant Clerk of BancBoston
Ventures Inc. do hereby certify that Zackery Edmonds is a duly elected Treasurer
of BancBoston Ventures Inc., and also has the power and authority to sign the
attached Statements on Schedule 13G in the name and on behalf of BancBoston
Ventures Inc.
In witness whereof, I have set my hand and seal of BancBoston Ventures
Inc. this 13th day of February, 1998.
By: /s/ Timothy A. Gerhold
---------------------------
Name: Timothy A. Gerhold
Title: Assistant Clerk
8
