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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2005

 

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission File Number 001-13769

 

CHITTENDEN CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

VERMONT   03-0228404
(State of Incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

TWO BURLINGTON SQUARE

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

  05401
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number: (802) 658-4000

 

NOT APPLICABLE

Former Name, Former Address and Formal Fiscal Year

If Changed Since Last Report

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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. YES x NO ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). YES x NO ¨

 

At April 21, 2005, there were 46,401,555 shares of the Corporation’s $1.00 par value common stock issued and outstanding.

 



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

2


Chittenden Corporation

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2005


    December 31,
2004


 
     (in thousands)  

Assets

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 146,861     $ 136,468  

Securities available for sale

     1,409,434       1,446,221  

FRB and FHLB stock

     19,352       19,243  

Loans held for sale

     22,131       33,535  

Loans:

                

Commercial

     812,050       801,369  

Municipal

     98,128       106,120  

Real Estate:

                

Residential

                

1-4 family

     712,133       688,017  

Multi-family

     180,632       182,541  

Home equity

     297,649       294,656  

Commercial

     1,651,247       1,590,457  

Construction

     133,799       174,283  
    


 


Total Real Estate

     2,975,460       2,929,954  

Consumer

     242,239       239,750  
    


 


Total Loans

     4,127,877       4,077,193  

Less: Allowance for loan losses

     (59,811 )     (59,031 )
    


 


Net loans

     4,068,066       4,018,162  

Accrued interest receivable

     28,443       28,956  

Other assets

     66,746       64,970  

Premises and equipment, net

     72,336       74,271  

Mortgage servicing rights

     12,074       11,826  

Identified intangibles

     19,648       20,422  

Goodwill

     216,136       216,136  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 6,081,227     $ 6,070,210  
    


 


Liabilities:

                

Deposits:

                

Demand

   $ 881,954     $ 890,561  

Savings

     514,215       519,623  

NOW

     898,720       890,701  

CMAs/ Money market

     1,527,753       1,577,474  

Certificates of deposit less than $100,000

     781,111       752,828  

Certificates of deposit $100,000 and over

     459,410       407,543  
    


 


Total deposits

     5,063,163       5,038,730  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     91,443       76,716  

Borrowings

     254,418       279,755  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     54,721       54,752  
    


 


Total liabilities

     5,463,745       5,449,953  

Stockholders’ Equity:

                

Preferred stock - $100 par value authorized – 1,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - none

     —         —    

Common stock - $1 par value; authorized – 60,000,000 shares; issued – 50,206,767 in 2005 and 50,203,529 in 2004

     50,207       50,204  

Surplus

     248,864       249,036  

Retained earnings

     395,410       384,679  

Treasury stock, at cost – 3,805,212 shares in 2005 and 3,861,710 shares in 2004

     (68,233 )     (69,246 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (13,747 )     672  

Directors deferred compensation to be settled in stock

     4,996       4,930  

Unearned portion of employee restricted stock

     (15 )     (18 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     617,482       620,257  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 6,081,227     $ 6,070,210  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Chittenden Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31,


 
     2005

   2004

 
     (in thousands, except
per share amounts)
 

Interest income:

               

Interest on loans

   $ 58,151    $ 49,254  

Investment securities:

               

Taxable

     15,043      15,580  

Tax-favored

     13      13  

Short-term investments

     5      7  
    

  


Total interest income

     73,212      64,854  
    

  


Interest expense:

               

Deposits

     11,268      8,189  

Borrowings

     2,959      1,954  
    

  


Total interest expense

     14,227      10,143  
    

  


Net interest income

     58,985      54,711  

Provision for loan losses

     1,075      427  
    

  


Net interest income after provision for loan losses

     57,910      54,284  
    

  


Noninterest income:

               

Investment management and trust

     4,971      5,296  

Service charges on deposits

     4,041      4,691  

Mortgage servicing

     355      (767 )

Gains on sales of loans, net

     2,131      1,901  

Gains on sales of securities

     —        1,802  

Loss on prepayments of borrowings

     —        (1,194 )

Credit card income, net

     975      908  

Insurance commissions, net

     2,364      2,626  

Other

     2,722      2,740  
    

  


Total noninterest income

     17,559      18,003  
    

  


Noninterest expense:

               

Salaries

     21,676      20,879  

Employee benefits

     6,479      5,971  

Net occupancy expense

     6,326      6,026  

Data processing

     775      2,293  

Amortization of intangibles

     774      755  

Conversion and restructuring charges

     —        152  

Other

     9,410      8,526  
    

  


Total noninterest expense

     45,440      44,602  
    

  


Income before income taxes

     30,029      27,685  

Income tax expense

     10,947      10,218  
    

  


Net income

   $ 19,082    $ 17,467  
    

  


Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.41    $ 0.38  

Diluted earnings per share

     0.41      0.37  

Dividends per share

     0.18      0.16  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Chittenden Corporation

Consolidated Statements of CashFlows

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 
     (in thousands)  

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 19,082     $ 17,467  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Provision for loan losses

     1,075       427  

Depreciation

     2,085       2,153  

Amortization of intangible assets

     774       755  

Amortization of premiums, fees, and discounts, net

     3,573       2,016  

Recovery of provision for impairment of MSR asset

     (292 )     (448 )

Investment securities gains

     —         (1,802 )

Deferred income taxes

     (703 )     (2,104 )

Loans originated for sale

     (84,716 )     (122,228 )

Proceeds from sales of loans

     96,978       117,113  

Gains on sales of loans, net

     (2,131 )     (1,901 )

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect from purchase of acquired companies:

                

Accrued interest receivable

     513       3,542  

Other assets

     (1,227 )     19,838  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     9,802       (3,132 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     44,813       31,696  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Purchase of Federal Reserve Bank stock

     (109 )     —    

Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale

     —         80,633  

Proceeds from principal payments on securities available for sale

     56,688       94,897  

Purchases of securities available for sale

     (44,368 )     (51,301 )

Loans originated, net of principal repayments

     (52,403 )     (56,956 )

Purchases of premises and equipment

     (150 )     (4,508 )
    


 


Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     (40,342 )     62,765  
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Net increase (decrease) in deposits

     24,433       (135,549 )

Net increase (decrease) in borrowings

     (10,610 )     25,063  

Proceeds from issuance of treasury and common stock

     450       2,603  

Dividends on common stock

     (8,351 )     (7,339 )
    


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     5,922       (115,222 )
    


 


Net (increase) decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     10,393       (20,761 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     136,468       174,939  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 146,861     $ 154,178  
    


 


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

                

Cash paid during the period for:

                

Interest

   $ 14,715     $ 9,411  

Income taxes

     8,866       852  

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

                

Loans transferred to other real estate owned

     8       20  

Issuance of treasury and common stock

     374       2,521  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

5


NOTE 1 – ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The financial information included herein is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim periods. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the full year or any other interim period.

 

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in its 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For interim reporting purposes, the Company follows the same basic accounting policies and considers each interim period as an integral part of an annual period.

 

There were no new accounting policies or changes to existing policies adopted in the first quarter of 2005 which had a significant effect on the results of operations or statement of financial condition.

 

NOTE 2 – ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

     As of March 31, 2005

     Gross Carrying
Amount


   Accumulated
Amortization


   Net Carrying
Amount


          (in thousands)     

Amortized intangible assets

                    

Core deposit intangibles

   $ 28,541    $ 13,368    $ 15,173

Customer list intangibles

     3,498      703      2,795

Acquired trust relationships

     4,000      2,320      1,680
    

  

  

Total

   $ 36,039    $ 16,391    $ 19,648
    

  

  

 

     (in thousands)

Aggregate Amortization Expense:

      

For three months ended March 31, 2005

   $ 774

Estimated Amortization Expense:

      

For year ended 12/31/06

     2,659

For year ended 12/31/07

     2,659

For year ended 12/31/08

     2,659

For year ended 12/31/09

     2,659

For year ended 12/31/10

     2,542

 

NOTE 3 – GOODWILL

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2005 are as follows:

 

     Commercial Banking
Segment


   Other
Segment


   Total

Balance as of December 31, 2004

   $ 211,084    $ 5,052    $ 216,136

Goodwill acquired during year

     —        —        —  

Impairment losses

     —        —        —  
    

  

  

Balance as of March 31, 2005

   $ 211,084    $ 5,052    $ 216,136
    

  

  

 

NOTE 4 – CAPITAL TRUST SECURITIES

 

On May 21, 2002, Chittenden Capital Trust I, (the “Trust”) issued $125 million of 8% trust preferred securities (“Securities”) to the public and invested the proceeds from this offering in an equivalent amount of junior subordinated debentures issued by (the “Company”). These debentures are the sole asset of the Trust. The proceeds

 

6


from the offering, which was net of $4.4 million of issuance costs, were primarily used to fund the cash consideration paid in the Granite Bank transaction. The Securities pay interest quarterly, are mandatorily redeemable on July 1, 2032 and may be redeemed by the Trust at par any time on or after July 1, 2007. The Company has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the Securities issued by the Trust.

 

Concurrent with the issuance of these Securities, Chittenden entered into interest rate swap agreements with two counterparties, in which the Company will receive 8% fixed on the notional amount of $125 million, while paying the counterparties a variable rate based on the three month LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate), plus approximately 122 basis points.

 

NOTE 5 – COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

The Company’s comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 is presented below (amounts in thousands):

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 

Net Income

   $ 19,082     $ 17,467  

Unrealized holding gains (losses) on securities available for sale, net of tax

     (14,419 )     7,540  

Reclassification adjustments for gains arising during the period, net of tax

     —         (1,171 )
    


 


Total Comprehensive Income

   $ 4,663     $ 23,836  
    


 


 

NOTE 6 – EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

The following table summarizes the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


     2005

   2004

     (in thousands except
per share information)

Net income

   $ 19,082    $ 17,467
    

  

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     46,385      45,899

Dilutive effect of common stock equivalents

     533      623
    

  

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding

     46,918      46,522
    

  

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.41    $ 0.38

Diluted earnings per share

     0.41      0.37

 

The following table summarizes options that could potentially dilute earnings per share in the future which were not included in the computation of the common stock equivalents because to do so would have been antidilutive:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


     2005

   2004

Anti-dilutive options

     469,720      409,146

Weighted average exercise price

   $ 29.77    $ 28.45

 

NOTE 7 – STOCK PLANS

 

The Company has two stock option plans, which are described more fully in Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2004. The Company accounts for those plans under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related Interpretations. No stock option-

 

7


related compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, to stock options granted in the respective periods.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
     2005

   2004

 
     (in thousands except per
share information)
 

Net Income:

               

As reported

   $ 19,082    $ 17,467  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     —        (843 )
    

  


Pro forma

   $ 19,082    $ 16,624  
    

  


Earnings Per Share:

               

Basic:

               

As reported

   $ 0.41    $ 0.38  

Pro forma

     0.41      0.36  

Diluted:

               

As reported

   $ 0.41      0.37  

Pro forma

     0.41      0.36  

 

The resulting pro forma compensation cost may not be representative of the cost to be expected in future periods and is primarily affected by the number of stock options granted in a particular period.

 

NOTE 8 – EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

 

Pension Plan

 

The Company sponsors a qualified defined benefit pension plan that covers substantially all of its employees. The Chittenden Pension Account Plan (“Chittenden Plan”) covers substantially all employees who meet minimum age and service requirements and provides benefits based on years of service and compensation earned during those years of service.

 

Net periodic pension expense components included in employee benefits in the consolidated statements of income are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)


 
     2005

    2004

 

Service cost

   $ 967     $ 855  

Interest cost

     1,056       924  

Expected return on plan assets

     (1,196 )     (1,113 )
    


 


Net Amortization:

                

Prior service cost

     (142 )     (160 )

Net actuarial loss

     286       117  

Transition cost

     —         (28 )
    


 


Total amortization

     144       (71 )
    


 


Net periodic pension expense

   $ 971     $ 595  
    


 


 

8


As Chittenden previously disclosed in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004, due to a prior contribution made in excess of the minimum required amounts, the Company does not anticipate a required contribution during 2005.

 

NOTE 9 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 

The Company has identified Commercial Banking as its reportable operating business segment based on the fact that the results of operations are viewed as a single strategic unit by the chief operating decision-maker. The Commercial Banking segment is comprised of the five Commercial Banking subsidiaries and Chittenden Connecticut Corporation, which provide similar products and services, have similar distribution methods, types of customers and regulatory responsibilities. Commercial Banking derives its revenue from a wide range of banking services, including lending activities, acceptance of demand, savings and time deposits, business services, investment management and trust, brokerage services, and mortgage banking.

 

Immaterial operating segments of the Company’s operations, which do not have similar characteristics to the commercial banking operations and do not meet the quantitative thresholds requiring disclosure, are included in the Other category in the disclosure of business segments below. Revenue derived from these segments includes commissions from insurance related products and services, as well as other operations associated with the parent holding company.

 

The accounting policies used in the disclosure of business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies included in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2004. The consolidation adjustments reflect certain eliminations of inter-segment revenue, cash and parent company investments in subsidiaries.

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005

(in thousands)

   Commercial
Banking


   Other (2)

   

Consolidation

Adjustments


    Consolidated

Net interest income (1)

   $ 60,390    $ (1,405 )   $ —       $ 58,985

Noninterest income

     15,173      2,386       —         17,559

Provision for loan losses

     1,075      —         —         1,075

Noninterest expense

     43,517      1,923       —         45,440
    

  


 


 

Net income (loss) before income taxes

     30,971      (942 )     —         30,029

Income tax expense/(benefit)

     11,216      (269 )     —         10,947
    

  


 


 

Net income (loss)

   $ 19,755    $ (673 )   $ —       $ 19,082
    

  


 


 

End of Period Assets

   $ 6,188,486    $ 792,256     $ (899,515 )   $ 6,081,227

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

(in thousands)

   Commercial
Banking


   Other (2)

   

Consolidation

Adjustments


    Consolidated

Net interest income (1)

   $ 55,667    $ (956 )   $ —       $ 54,711

Noninterest income

     15,340      2,663       —         18,003

Provision for loan losses

     427      —         —         427

Noninterest expense

     39,663      4,939       —         44,602
    

  


 


 

Net income (loss) before income taxes

     30,917      (3,232 )     —         27,685

Income tax expense/(benefit)

     10,951      (733 )     —         10,218
    

  


 


 

Net income (loss)

   $ 19,966    $ (2,499 )   $ —       $ 17,467
    

  


 


 

End of Period Assets

   $ 5,871,338    $ 859,493     $ (923,199 )   $ 5,807,632

 

(1) The Commercial Banking segment derives a majority of its revenue from interest. In addition, management primarily relies on net interest income, not the gross revenue and expense amounts, in managing the segment. Therefore, only the net amount has been disclosed.

 

(2) Revenue derived from these non-reportable segments includes insurance commissions from insurance related products and services, as well as other operations associated with the parent holding company.

 

9


NOTE 10 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

On April 20, 2005, the Company declared dividends of $0.18 per share or approximately $8.3 million, to be paid on May 13, 2005 to shareholders of record on April 29, 2005.

 

NOTE 11 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK

 

In the normal course of business, to meet the financing needs of their customers and to reduce their own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, the Banks are parties to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, held for purposes other than trading. The financial instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. The Banks’ exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument, for loan commitments and standby letters of credit, is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments, assuming that the amounts are fully advanced and that collateral or other security is of no value. The Banks use the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as they do for on-balance sheet instruments. The Banks evaluate each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Banks upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and income-producing commercial properties.

 

Commitments to originate loans, unused lines of credit, and unadvanced portions of construction loans are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon. Therefore, the amounts presented below do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Banks to guarantee the performance by a customer to a third party. These guarantees are issued primarily to support public and private borrowing arrangements, bond financing, and similar transactions. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan commitments to customers.

 

Financial instruments whose contractual amounts represent off-balance sheet risk at March 31, 2005 (in thousands):

 

Loans and Other Commitments

      

Commitments to originate loans

   $ 243,452

Unused home equity lines of credit

     324,899

Other unused lines of credit

     40,469

Unadvanced portions of construction loans

     175,546

Equity investment commitments to limited partnerships

     3,479

Standby Letters of Credit

      

Notional amount fully collateralized by cash

   $ 68,095

Notional amount of other standby letters of credit

     29,817

Liability associated with letters of credit recorded on balance sheet

     615

 

NOTE 12 – RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R (“SFAS 123R”)(revised December 2004), Share-based Payment, which establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services. This statement does not change the accounting guidance for share-based payment transactions with parties other than employees provided in SFAS 123, however non-employee directors are scoped into SFAS 123R. This statement requires a public entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. SFAS 123R allows the use of valuation models other than the Black-Scholes model prescribed in SFAS 123, specifically the Binomial Lattice method. Therefore, the pro forma costs of stock option expense estimated in Note 1 using the Black-Scholes method may not be representative of the costs recognized by the Company upon adoption of SFAS 123R. The Company is still in the process of analyzing the cost of stock options under SFAS 123R. On April 14, 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission delayed the effective date for SFAS 123R, which allows companies to implement the statement at the beginning of their first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005, which would be January 1, 2006 for the Company.

 

10


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

This report contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue” or similar words. The Company intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss the Company’s future expectations, contain projections of the Company’s future results of operations or financial condition, or state other “forward-looking” information.

 

There may be events in the future that the Company is not able to predict accurately or control and that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations described in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in this report. These differences may be the result of various factors, including changes in general, national or regional economic conditions, changes in loan default and charge-off rates, reductions in deposit levels necessitating increased borrowing to fund loans and investments, changes in interest rates, changes in levels of noninterest income and expense related activities, changes in the methods or rates used by governments to assess taxes against the Company including income that is exempted from taxation or expenses that are not deductible for tax purposes, and other risk factors identified from time to time in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The factors referred to above include many, but not all, of the factors that could impact the Company’s ability to achieve the results described in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. You should be aware that the occurrence of the events described above and elsewhere in this report could harm the Company’s business, prospects, operating results or financial condition. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.

 

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

 

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year-ended December 31, 2004. The Company considers the following accounting policies and related estimates to be the most critical in their potential effect on its financial position or results of operations:

 

Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is established through a charge against current earnings to the provision for loan losses. The allowance for loan losses is based on management’s estimate of the amount required to reflect the probable inherent losses in the loan portfolio, based on circumstances and conditions known at each reporting date in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). There are three components of the allowance for loan losses: 1) specific reserves for loans considered to be impaired or for other loans for which management considers a specific reserve to be necessary; 2) allocated reserves based upon management’s formula-based process for assessing the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; and 3) a non-specific environmentally-driven allowance considered necessary by management based on its assessment of other qualitative factors. The allowance for loan losses is a significant estimate and is regularly reviewed by the Company for adequacy using a consistent, systematic methodology which assesses such factors as changes in the mix and volume of the loan portfolio; trends in portfolio credit quality, including delinquency and charge-off rates; and current economic conditions that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay. Adverse changes in management’s assessment of these factors could lead to additional provisions for loan losses. The Company’s methodology

 

11


with respect to the assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is more fully discussed in its Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2004.

 

Goodwill Impairment. The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangibles, effective January 1, 2002. The statement addresses the method of identifying and measuring goodwill and other intangible assets acquired in a business combination, eliminates further amortization of goodwill, and requires periodic impairment evaluations of goodwill. Impairment evaluations are required to be performed annually and may be required more frequently if certain conditions indicating potential impairment exist. In the event that the Company were to determine that its goodwill were impaired, the recognition of an impairment charge could have an adverse impact on its results of operations in the period that the impairment occurred or on its financial position.

 

Mortgage Servicing Rights (MSRs). Servicing assets are recognized as separate assets when rights are acquired through purchase or the sale of financial assets on a servicing-retained basis. Capitalized servicing rights are amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying financial assets. Servicing assets are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to amortized cost. Impairment is determined by stratifying servicing rights by predominant characteristics, such as interest rates and original loan terms. Fair value is determined using prices for similar assets with similar characteristics, when available, or based upon discounted cash flows using market-based assumptions. When the book value of an individual stratum exceeds its fair value, an impairment reserve is recognized so that each individual stratum is carried at the lower of its amortized book value or fair value. In periods of falling market interest rates, accelerated loan prepayment speeds can adversely impact the fair value of these servicing rights relative to their book value. In the event that the fair value of these assets were to increase in the future, the Company can recognize the increased fair value to the extent of the impairment allowance but cannot recognize an asset in excess of its amortized book value. Future changes in management’s assessment of the impairment of these servicing assets, as a result of changes in observable market data relating to market interest rates, loan prepayment speeds, and other factors, could impact the Company’s financial condition and results of operations either positively or adversely.

 

Interest Income Recognition. Interest on loans is included in income as earned based upon interest rates applied to unpaid principal. Interest is not accrued on loans 90 days or more past due unless they are adequately secured and in the process of collection or on other loans when management believes collection is doubtful. All loans considered impaired are nonaccruing. Interest on nonaccruing loans is recognized as payments are received when the ultimate collectibility of interest is no longer considered doubtful. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, all interest previously accrued is reversed against current-period interest income; therefore an increase in loans on nonaccrual status could have an adverse impact on interest income recognized in future periods.

 

Income Taxes. The Company estimates income tax expense in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates for each period for which a statement of operations is presented. This involves estimating the Company’s actual current tax exposure as well as assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as timing of the deduction of expenses, for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company must also assess the likelihood that any deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent that recovery is not likely, a valuation allowance must be established. Significant management judgment is required in determining income tax expense, and deferred tax assets and liabilities. As of March 31, 2005, there were no valuation allowances set aside against any deferred tax assets.

 

12


Conversion and Restructuring Charges. The Company recognizes restructuring charges in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 146 Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (“SFAS 146”) and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 10 Restructuring and Impairment Charges “SAB 10”, which contain specific guidance regarding the types of, and circumstances under which, certain expenses can be accrued. In general, SFAS 146 and SAB 10 require that the Company have a detailed plan in place, which has been communicated to substantially all the employees affected in the staff reduction, branch closures/sales, or computer conversions. Significant management judgment is required in estimating the amount of expense that is appropriate to recognize in relation to these plans.

 

Management Overview

 

Chittenden’s first quarter of 2005 recorded a 9% increase in net income and an 11% increase in earnings per share over the comparable quarter of a year ago. The increase in net income primarily related to higher net interest income, which resulted from a 5% increase in average earning assets as well as a 13 basis point increase in the net interest margin. Chittenden continued to experience strong asset quality with NPAs to loans of 50 basis points and net chargeoffs of 1 basis point.

 

Results of Operations

 

Chittenden posted first quarter 2005 net income of $0.41 per diluted share, compared to $0.37 per diluted share posted in the first quarter of last year and $0.43 per diluted share on a linked quarter basis. Net income for the first quarter of 2005 was $19.1 million, compared to $17.5 million recorded in the same quarter a year ago and $20.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. Return on average equity (ROE) was 12.46% for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 compared with 11.97% for the same period in 2004 and 12.95% for a quarter ago. Return on average assets (ROA) was 1.28% for the first quarter of 2005, an increase of 7 basis points from the first quarter of last year and a decrease of 3 basis points on a linked quarter basis.

 

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis for the three months ended March 31, 2005 was $59.4 million, flat on a linked quarter basis and up $4.4 million for the same period a year ago. The increase in net interest income from the same period a year ago was primarily due to the growth in average earning assets as well as a higher net interest margin. The Company’s net interest margin for the first quarter was 4.30%, an increase of 3 basis points from the fourth quarter of last year and 13 basis points from the first quarter of 2004. The increase from both periods was due to higher yields on loans, driven by increases in the prime rate, as well as continued improvement in the Company’s asset mix. The contribution from the loan portfolio increased 3% to 74% of average earning assets and the yield on the loan portfolio increased 46 basis points to 5.75% from the same period of a year ago.

 

13


The following table presents an analysis of average rates and yields on a fully taxable equivalent basis for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:

 

     2005

    2004

 
     Average
Balance


    Interest
Income/
Expense (1)


   Average
Yield/
Rate (1)


    Average
Balance


    Interest
Income/
Expense (1)


   Average
Yield/
Rate (1)


 
     (in thousands)  

Assets

                                          

Interest-earning assets:

                                          

Loans:

                                          

Commercial

   $ 797,135     $ 11,897    6.05 %   $ 658,978     $ 8,573    5.23 %

Municipal

     99,817       829    3.32       91,168       687    3.01  

Real estate:

                                          

Residential

     1,196,152       16,644    5.58       1,163,711       15,052    5.19  

Commercial

     1,620,541       23,406    5.86       1,449,413       19,414    5.39  

Construction

     160,528       2,331    5.89       141,110       1,771    5.05  
    


 

        


 

      

Total real estate

     2,977,221       42,381    5.75       2,754,234       36,237       

Consumer

     242,967       3,416    5.70       255,007       4,035    6.36  
    


 

        


 

      

Total loans

     4,117,140       58,523    5.75       3,759,388       49,532    5.29  

Investments:

                                          

Taxable

     1,448,917       15,043    4.15       1,529,237       15,580    4.08  

Tax-favored securities

     1,293       21    6.67       1,297       20    6.33  

Interest-bearing deposits in banks

     150       1    1.51       150       1    1.49  

Federal funds sold

     624       5    3.13       2,796       7    0.95  
    


 

        


 

      

Total interest-earning assets

     5,568,124       73,593    5.33       5,292,868       65,140    4.94  
            

                

      

Noninterest-earning assets

     551,546                    557,038               

Allowance for loan losses

     (59,493 )                  (57,894 )             
    


              


            

Total assets

   $ 6,060,177                  $ 5,792,012               
    


              


            

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity

                                          

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                          

Savings

   $ 519,094       454    0.35     $ 519,064       412    0.32  

NOW

     862,986       719    0.34       865,650       550    0.26  

CMAs/money market

     1,556,726       3,901    1.02       1,514,764       2,414    0.64  

Certificates of deposit under $100,000

     760,923       3,781    2.02       782,154       3,678    1.89  

Certificates of deposit $100,000 and over

     420,139       2,413    2.33       280,533       1,135    1.63  
    


 

        


 

      

Total interest-bearing deposits

     4,119,868       11,268    1.11       3,962,165       8,189    0.83  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     117,117       419    1.45       76,938       177    0.93  

Borrowings

     269,496       2,540    3.82       263,045       1,777    2.72  
    


 

        


 

      

Total interest-bearing liabilities

     4,506,481       14,227    1.28       4,302,148       10,143    0.95  
            

                

      

Noninterest-bearing liabilities:

                                          

Demand deposits

     881,080                    846,169               

Other liabilities

     51,340                    56,907               
    


              


            

Total liabilities

     5,438,901                    5,205,224               

Stockholders’ equity

     621,276                    586,788               
    


              


            

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 6,060,177                  $ 5,792,012               
    


              


            

Net interest income

           $ 59,366                  $ 54,997       
            

                

      

Interest rate spread (2)

                  4.05                    3.99  

Net yield on earning assets (3)

                  4.30                    4.17  

 

(1) On a fully taxable equivalent basis. Calculated using a Federal income tax rate of 35%. Loan income includes fees.

 

(2) Interest rate spread is the average rate earned on total interest-earning assets less the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities.

 

(3) Net yield on earning assets is net interest income divided by total interest-earning assets.

 

14


The following table attributes changes in the Company’s net interest income (on a fully taxable equivalent basis) to changes in either average balances or average rates. Changes due to both interest rate and volume have been allocated to change due to balance and change due to rate in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each.

 

     YTD 2005 Compared with YTD 2004

 
     Increase (Decrease)
in Net Interest Income Due to:


   

Total

Increase
(Decrease)


 
     Average
Rate


    Average
Balance


   
     (in thousands)  

Interest income:

                        

Loans:

                        

Commercial

   $ 1,348     $ 1,976     $ 3,324  

Municipal

     70       72       142  

Real estate

                        

Residential

     1,144       448       1,592  

Commercial

     1,704       2,288       3,992  

Construction

     296       264       560  
    


 


 


Total real estate

     3,144       3,000       6,144  

Consumer

     (448 )     (171 )     (619 )
    


 


 


Total loans

     4,114       4,877       8,991  

Investments:

                        

Taxable

     295       (832 )     (537 )

Tax-favored

     1       —         1  

Federal funds sold

     12       (14 )     (2 )
    


 


 


Total interest income

     4,422       4,031       8,453  
    


 


 


Interest expense:

                        

Savings

     47       (5 )     42  

NOWs

     178       (9 )     169  

CMAs/ money market

     1,424       63       1,487  

Certificates of deposit under $100,000

     242       (139 )     103  

Certificates of deposit $100,000 and over

     491       787       1,278  

Repurchase agreements

     97       145       242  

Borrowings

     725       38       763  
    


 


 


Total interest expense

     3,204       880       4,084  
    


 


 


Change in net interest income

   $ 1,218     $ 3,151     $ 4,369  
    


 


 


 

Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

 

Noninterest income increased $636,000 on a linked quarter basis and declined $444,000 from the same period a year-ago. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2004 was primarily due to higher mortgage servicing income and seasonal increases in insurance commissions, which was partially offset by declines in investment management and trust income and gains on sales of loans. Mortgage servicing income increased from both the fourth quarter of 2004 and first quarter of 2004 due to higher impairment recoveries and lower amortization (for further discussion on mortgage servicing see page 19). Insurance commissions increased from the fourth quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2004 due to higher levels of performance-based income of $1.1 million and $508,000 respectively. Investment management and trust income, more specifically the Company’s retail investment group, declined on a linked quarter basis as well as from a year ago due to market performance. Excluding retail investment income investment management and trust income would have increased from both periods. The decrease in noninterest income from the first quarter of 2004 was also attributable to a decline in mortgage loans, which was due to a decrease in production. Service charges on deposits also declined $640,000 compared to the first quarter of 2004 due primarily to the expansion of relationship accounts, growth in CDs, and deposit migration from former Granite Bank depositors. Gains on sales of securities net of losses on prepayment of borrowings declined as well from the same period a year ago.

 

Noninterest expense was $45.4 million for the first quarter of 2005, an increase of $2.4 million on a linked quarter basis and $838,000 from the same period a year ago. The increase from the fourth quarter was primarily

 

15


attributable to higher employee benefits of $1.2 million, occupancy expense of $916,000 and an increase of $388,000 in other noninterest expense. The employee benefit expense increase was driven by higher pension expense of $500,000, and the normal seasonal trend in payroll taxes. The increase in occupancy expense was due to higher utility bills, additional snow removal expense and higher property expense in the New Hampshire franchise. The increase from the comparable quarter a year ago is primarily a result of higher salaries, employee benefits and other expense, which was partially offset by lower data processing expense.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are taxed on their income at the Federal level and by various states in which they do business. The State of Vermont levies franchise taxes on banks based upon average deposit levels in lieu of taxing income. Franchise taxes are included in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 was 36.4%, compared with 36.9% for the comparable period in 2004. The lower effective income tax rate from the first quarter of 2004 was primarily attributable to higher tax credits from qualified low-income housing projects.

 

Financial Position

 

Total loans at March 31, 2005 increased $51 million from December 31, 2004 and increased $348 million from the same period a year-ago. The increases were attributable to continued growth in the commercial and commercial real estate portfolios and in 1-4 family residential real estate loans. Consumer loans increased slightly from December 31, 2004 and declined from March 31, 2004. The increase in commercial real estate loans from December 31, 2004 was partially offset by a reduction in the construction portfolio as commercial customers completed their projects and rolled them into permanent financing. Residential real estate loans increased from both periods primarily as a result of higher originations of hybrid ARM mortgages as well as increased production of private banking loans. The consumer loan decline of $10 million from March 31, 2004 was driven by higher than normal prepayments in the indirect auto portfolio.

 

Total deposits increased $24 million from December 31, 2004 and $229 million from March 31, 2004. The increase from a year-ago was driven primarily by the Company’s commercial customers and resulted in higher activity in demand, CMA/money market accounts, and jumbo CDs. Borrowings at March 31, 2005 were $346 million, compared with $356 million at December 31, 2004 and $312 million at March 31, 2004. The decline from year-end was due to lower customer repurchase agreements, which resulted from customers selecting alternative products, such as jumbo CDs. The increase from March 31, 2004 was due to higher dealer repurchase agreements and short-term borrowings, which were utilized to fund loan growth.

 

Credit Quality

 

Net charge-off activity totaled $295,000 for the first quarter of 2005 compared to $391,000 for the same period in 2004. The allowance for loan losses was $59.8 million at March 31, 2005, an increase of $780,000 from December 31, 2004. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans and foreclosed real estate (Other Real Estate Owned). As of March 31, 2005, nonperforming assets (NPAs) were $20.7 million, up from the fourth quarter of 2004 as well as the first quarter of a year ago. As a percentage of total loans NPAs were 50 basis points, essentially flat with the fourth quarter of 2004 and down compared to 55 basis points in the first quarter of 2004.

 

16


A summary of credit quality follows:

 

     3/31/05

    12/31/04

    3/31/04

 
     (in thousands)  

Loans on nonaccrual

   $ 20,675     $ 19,915     $ 20,621  

Other real estate owned (OREO)

     17       109       36  
    


 


 


Total nonperforming assets (NPAs)

   $ 20,692     $ 20,024     $ 20,657  
    


 


 


Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest

   $ 4,543     $ 2,604     $ 3,201  

Allowance for loan losses

     59,811       59,031       57,500  

NPAs as % of loans plus OREO

     0.50 %     0.49 %     0.55 %

Allowance as % of loans

     1.45 %     1.45 %     1.52 %

Allowance as % of nonperforming loans

     289.29 %     296.41 %     278.85 %

 

Provisions for and activity in the allowance for loan losses are summarized as follows:

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,


 
     2005

    2004

 
     (in thousands)  

Beginning balance

   $ 59,031     $ 57,464  

Provision for loan losses

     1,075       427  

Loans charged off

     (1,154 )     (1,251 )

Loan recoveries

     859       860  
    


 


Ending balance

   $ 59,811     $ 57,500  
    


 


 

The allowance for loan losses is based on management’s estimate of the amount required to reflect the potential inherent losses in the loan portfolio, based on circumstances and conditions known or anticipated at each reporting date. There are inherent uncertainties with respect to the collectibility of the Banks’ loans and it is reasonably possible that actual losses experienced in the near term may differ from the amounts reflected in this report.

 

Adequacy of the allowance is determined using a consistent, systematic methodology which analyzes the size and risk of the loan portfolio. In addition to evaluating the collectibility of specific loans when determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, management also takes into consideration other factors such as changes in the mix and volume of the loan portfolio, historic loss experience, the amount of the delinquencies and loans adversely classified, and economic trends. The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is assessed by an allocation process whereby specific loss allocations are made against certain adversely classified loans, and general loss allocations are made against segments of the loan portfolio which have similar attributes. The Company’s historical loss experience, industry trends, and the impact of the local and regional economy on the Company’s borrowers, were considered by management in determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. For a full discussion on the Company’s allowance for loan loss policies see “Allowance for Loan Losses” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

17


Mortgage Servicing Rights

 

The following table summarizes activity for mortgage servicing rights purchased and originated for the three months ended March 31, 2005:

 

     Purchased

    Originated

    Total

 
     (in thousands)  

Balance at December 31, 2004

   $ 410     $ 11,416     $ 11,826  

Additions

     —         1,272       1,272  

Amortization

     (70 )     (1,246 )     (1,316 )

Recovery of impairment

     68       224       292  
    


 


 


Balance at March 31, 2005

   $ 408     $ 11,666     $ 12,074  
    


 


 


 

The Company’s mortgage operations sold $96 million in loans during the first quarter of 2005, which was down from $126 million during the fourth quarter of 2004 and down from $105 million in the first quarter of 2004. The continued volatility in interest rates impacted mortgage sales volumes, as well as amortization of mortgage servicing assets and the related impairment provisions/recoveries based on the fair value of those assets. During the first quarter of 2005, the MSR amortization was $1.3 million as compared to $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2004 and $2.3 million for the similar quarter of a year ago. The volatility in long-term interest rates generated on impairment recovery of $292,000 in the first quarter of 2005 as compared to an impairment charge of $422,000 in the fourth quarter of 2004 and a recovery of $448,000 in the comparable quarter of a year ago. The remaining impairment reserve for particular stratas in the MSR’s at March 31, 2005 was $750,000. The Company services approximately $2.1 billion in mortgages for others and has net capitalized mortgage-servicing rights of $12.1 million. As a result, the MSR asset as a percentage of loans serviced was approximately 57 basis points as of March 31, 2005.

 

Capital

 

Stockholders’ equity totaled $617.5 million at March 31, 2005, compared to $620.3 million at December 31, 2004. “Tier One” capital, consisting of common equity and the Trust Preferred Securities, measured 10.46% of risk-weighted assets at March 31, 2005. Total capital, including the “Tier Two” allowance for loan losses, was 11.65% of risk-weighted assets and the leverage capital ratio was 8.66%. These ratios placed Chittenden in the “well-capitalized” category according to regulatory standards.

 

The Trust, which issued the Company’s trust preferred securities, is no longer consolidated into the Company’s financial statements upon the adoption of FIN 46R in the first quarter of 2004. However, the Company continues to reflect the amounts payable to the Trust’s preferred shareholders as debt in its financial statements. On March 1, 2005, the Federal Reserve Board issued a final rule that would retain trust-preferred securities in Tier One capital of bank holding companies, but with stricter quantitative limits and clearer standards. Under the proposal, after a five-year transition period which would end on March 31, 2009, the aggregate amount of trust preferred securities would be limited to 25% of Tier One capital elements, net of goodwill.

 

The Company has evaluated the potential impact of such a change on its Tier One capital ratio and has concluded that the regulatory capital treatment of the Trust Preferred Securities in the Company’s total capital ratio would be unchanged.

 

Liquidity

 

The Company’s liquidity and rate sensitivity are monitored by the asset and liability committee, based upon policies approved by the Board of Directors. The measure of an institution’s liquidity is its ability to meet its cash commitments at all times with available cash or by conversion of other assets to cash at a reasonable price. For the quarter ended March 31, 2005, the Company’s ratio of average loans to average deposits was approximately 82.3%. At March 31, 2005, the Company maintained cash balances and short-

 

18


term investments of approximately $146.9 million, compared with $136.5 million at December 31, 2004. Borrowings at March 31, 2005 were $345.9 million compared to $356.5 million on December 31, 2004.

 

The Company has available borrowing capacity under certain programs including Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings, Treasury Tax & Loan borrowings, repo lines with investment banks, and advised Fed Funds lines totaling more than $562 million. The Company also has an effective shelf registration statement under which an additional $225 million in debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, or warrants may be offered from time to time.

 

Aggregate Contractual Obligations

 

     Payments due by period

     (in thousands)

Contractual Obligations


   Total

   Less than
1 year


   1-3
years


   3-5
years


   More than
5 years


FHLB borrowings

   $ 87,622    $ 35,163    $ 131    $ 139    $ 52,189

Trust preferred securities

     125,000      —        —        —        125,000

Data processing contract

     4,455      1,048      3,145      262      —  

Equity investment commitments to limited partnerships

     3,479      583      2,896      —        —  

Operating leases

     17,196      4,778      8,563      813      3,042
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 237,752    $ 41,572    $ 14,735    $ 1,214    $ 180,231
    

  

  

  

  

 

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS WITH OFF-BALANCE SHEET RISK

 

In the normal course of business, to meet the financing needs of their customers and to reduce their own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, the Banks are parties to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, held for purposes other than trading. The financial instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. The Banks’ exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument, for loan commitments and standby letters of credit, is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments, assuming that the amounts are fully advanced and that collateral or other security is of no value. The Banks use the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as they do for on-balance sheet instruments. The Banks evaluate each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary by the Banks upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, and income-producing commercial properties.

 

Commitments to originate loans, unused lines of credit, and unadvanced portions of construction loans are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon. Therefore, the amounts presented below do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Banks to guarantee the performance by a customer to a third party. These guarantees are issued primarily to support public and private borrowing arrangements, bond financing, and similar transactions. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan commitments to customers.

 

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Financial instruments whose contractual amounts represent off-balance sheet risk at March 31, 2005 (in thousands):

 

Loans and Other Commitments

      

Commitments to originate loans

   $ 243,452

Unused home equity lines of credit

     324,899

Other unused lines of credit

     40,469

Unadvanced portions of construction loans

     175,546

Equity investment commitments to limited partnerships

     3,479

Standby Letters of Credit

      

Notional amount fully collateralized by cash

   $ 68,095

Notional amount of other standby letters of credit

     29,817

Liability associated with letters of credit recorded on balance sheet

     615

 

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Item 3. Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

To measure the sensitivity of its income to changes in interest rates, the Company uses a variety of methods, including simulation, valuation techniques and gap analyses. Interest-rate risk is the sensitivity of income to variations in interest rates over both short-term and long-term horizons. The primary goal of interest-rate management is to control this risk within limits approved by the Board of Directors. These limits and guidelines reflect the Company’s tolerance for interest-rate risk. The Company attempts to control interest-rate risk by identifying exposures, quantifying them and taking appropriate actions. For a full discussion of interest-rate risk see “Liquidity and Rate Sensitivity” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. The Company has completed the analysis for March 31, 2005 and believes that there has not been a material change from December 31, 2004 in its interest-rate exposure.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of March 31, 2005, the end of the quarter covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. In designing and evaluating the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, the Company and its management recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and the Company’s management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating and implementing possible controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2005 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company reviews its disclosure controls and procedures, which may include its internal controls over financial reporting on an ongoing basis, and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that the Company’s systems evolve with its business.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

On April 20, 2005, Chittenden Corporation stockholders adopted an amendment and restatement to the Stock Incentive Plan. The amendment increases the number of shares of common stock reserved and available under the Stock Incentive Plan by 2,000,000 shares. The plan provides for the award of stock options and other awards based on shares of common stock to officers and key employees of Chittenden Corporation. The Company believes that stock options and other stock-based awards play an important role in the success of Chittenden and that this role must increase if the company’s to continue to attract, motivate and retain the caliber of officers and other employees necessary for our future growth and success.

 

Chittenden stockholders also adopted the 2005 Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2005 EMICP). The 2005 EMICP is designed to provide an annual cash bonus to certain employees of the Corporation and its affiliates in the event certain objective financial performance goals are achieved. The Executive Committee has determined that cash bonus awards to be earned in 2005 under the 2005 EMICP may be based on the performance of the Corporation, an affiliate or a division thereof, and/or individual performance.

 

Finally, Chittenden’s Board of Directors adopted a Performance Share Program which will govern Performance Share Awards under the Stock Incentive Plan. The adoption of the Performance Share Program was made subject to the approval of the Stock Incentive Plan and so became effective on April 20, 2005. Performance awards consist of shares of common stock of the Company to be issued in the event that performance goals are met as measured by one or more of the following: Corporate profitability, EPS ROE and/or other measures as deemed relevant by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee has determined that the 2005 Performance Share Awards will be primarily based on the following performance measures: EPS Growth Rate. The Executive Committee awarded Performance Share Awards to the following individuals who will potentially earn the target award specified below at the end of the three-year performance cycle if the performance measures are attained:

 

Executive


   Targets for
3-Year Cycle


Paul A. Perrault

   14,184

John W. Kelly

   8,183

Kirk W. Walters

   5,455

John P. Barnes

   5,455

 

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Item 6. EXHIBITS

 

  (a) EXHIBITS

 

3.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Chittenden Corporation (Incorporated by reference to the Proxy Statement for the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders)
3.2    Articles of Amendment of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Chittenden Corporation.
10.1    Amended and Restated Chittenden Stock Incentive Plan, amended and restated as of February 16, 2005 (Incorporated by reference to Chittenden Corporation’s Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on March 9, 2005)
10.2    2005 Executive Management Incentive Compensation Plan (Incorporated by reference to Chittenden Corporation’s Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on March 9, 2005)
10.3    Chittenden Corporation Performance Share Program.
31.1    Certification of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul A. Perrault pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kirk W. Walters pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Paul A. Perrault, pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Kirk W. Walters, pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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CHITTENDEN CORPORATION

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

       

CHITTENDEN CORPORATION

       

Registrant

April 22, 2005

     

/S/ PAUL A. PERRAULT

Date

     

Paul A. Perrault,

       

Chairman, President and

       

Chief Executive Officer

April 22, 2005

     

/S/ KIRK W. WALTERS

Date

     

Kirk W. Walters

       

Executive Vice President,

       

Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer

 

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