BURLINGTON, Vt., May 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chittenden Corporation
(NYSE: CHZ) and Merrill Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: MERB) announced
today that the shareholders of Merrill Merchants voted to adopt the
Agreement and Plan of Merger between Chittenden and Merrill Merchants at
Merrill Merchants' special meeting of shareholders on May 8, 2007. The
number of shares of Merrill Merchants common stock voting to adopt the
merger agreement represented approximately 77 percent of the total number
of shares outstanding and entitled to vote. The proposed merger is expected
to close on May 31, 2007, pending the satisfaction or waiver of all of the
conditions set forth in the merger agreement, including the receipt of all
required regulatory approvals.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release 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. These
forward- looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor
provisions for forward- looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and this statement is included
for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. These
forward-looking statements are based on current plans and expectations,
which are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties that could
cause future results to differ materially from historical performance or
future expectations. These differences may be the result of various
factors, including, among others: (1) failure of the parties to satisfy the
closing conditions in the merger agreement in a timely manner or at all;
(2) failure to obtain governmental approvals of the merger, or imposition
of adverse regulatory conditions in connection with such approvals; (3)
disruptions to the parties' businesses as a result of the announcement and
pendency of the merger; (4) costs or difficulties related to the
integration of the businesses following the merger; (5) changes in general,
national or regional economic conditions; (6) changes in loan default and
charge-off rates; (7) reductions in deposit levels necessitating increased
borrowings to fund loans and investments; (8) changes in interest rates;
(9) changes in levels of income and expense in noninterest income and
expense related activities; and (10) competition.
For further information on these risk factors and uncertainties, please
see Chittenden's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including Chittenden's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2006. Chittenden and Merrill Merchants undertake no obligation
to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a
result of new information, future events or other changes.
Additional Information About this Transaction
In connection with the proposed merger of Merrill Merchants with and
into Chittenden, Chittenden has filed a registration statement on Form S-4
with the Securities and Exchange Commission containing a proxy
statement/prospectus dated March 27, 2007, which has been mailed to Merrill
Merchants shareholders. Investors are urged to read these materials, and
any other documents filed by Chittenden or Merrill Merchants with the SEC,
because they contain or will contain important information about
Chittenden, Merrill Merchants and the merger. The proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant materials, and any other documents
filed by Chittenden or Merrill Merchants with the SEC, may be obtained free
of charge at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, investors may
obtain free copies of these documents by directing a written request to
Chittenden Corporation, 2 Burlington Square, Burlington, Vermont
05402-0820, Attention: General Counsel.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any
securities.
Chittenden is a bank holding company headquartered in Burlington,
Vermont. Through its subsidiary banks(1), the Company offers a broad range
of financial products and services to customers throughout Northern New
England, Massachusetts and Connecticut, including deposit accounts and
services; commercial and consumer loans; insurance; and investment and
trust services to businesses, individuals, and the public sector.
Chittenden Corporation's news releases, including earnings announcements,
are available on the Company's website.
(1) Chittenden's subsidiaries are Chittenden Trust Company, The Bank of
Western Massachusetts, Flagship Bank and Trust Company, Maine Bank &
Trust Company, and Ocean National Bank. Chittenden Trust Company also
operates under the names Chittenden Bank, Chittenden Services Group,
Chittenden Mortgage Services, and it owns Chittenden Insurance Group,
LLC, Chittenden Securities, LLC and Chittenden Commercial Finance.
SOURCE Chittenden Corporation
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Related links:
http://www.chittendencorp.com/
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/124292.html/
CONTACT:
Kirk W. Walters of Chittenden Corporation,
+1-802-660-1561; or Edwin N. Clift or Deborah Jordan of Merrill
Merchants Bancshares, Inc., +1-207-942-4800
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