SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

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

MASSACHUSETTS
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorpo2ration)

1-9047		04-2870273
(Commission File Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.

(Exact name of Registrant as Sepcified in Its Charter)

288 UNION ST., ROCKLAND, MA
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

02370
(Zip Code)

NOT APPLICABLE
(Former Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

781-878-6100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o		Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o		Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o		Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

ITEM 1.01 ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

Executive Compensation: Stock Option Award Grants

     On December 15, 2005 Independent Bank Corp. (the “Company”) awarded options to acquire shares of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the Independent Bank Corp. 2005 Employee Stock Plan (the “2005 Plan”) and the Independent Bank Corp. 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “1997 Plan”) at a strike price of $28.895 to employees of the Company and/or the Company’s wholly-owned banking subsidiary Rockland Trust Company (“Rockland Trust”).

     In connection with and as a part of the December 15, 2005 option award to employees of the Company and/or Rockland Trust the Company awarded options to Executive Officers of the Company and/or of Rockland Trust from the 2005 Plan at a strike price of $28.895, as follows:

	Executive Officer			Position			# Shares Subject To Option
	Christopher Oddleifson			President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of Rockland Trust			32,000
	Raymond G. Fuerschbach			Senior Vice President, Human Resources, of Rockland Trust			7,500
	Edward F. Jankowski			Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Rockland Trust			7,500
	Ferdinand T. Kelley			Executive Vice President (Commercial Lending Division and Investment Management Group) of Rockland Trust			12,000
	Jane L. Lundquist			Executive Vice President (Director of Retail Banking and Corporate Marketing) of Rockland Trust			10,000
	Anthony A. Paciulli			Managing Director (Residential Mortgage) of Rockland Trust			7,500
	Edward H. Seksay			General Counsel of the Company and of Rockland Trust			7,500
	Denis K. Sheahan			Chief Financial Officer of the Company and of Rockland Trust			18,000

The 2005 Plan is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement which was filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on July 28, 2005.

     The stock options granted to Executive Officers on December 15, 2005 were awarded with the same vesting period and term used for all the stock option awards simultaneously made to other Rockland Trust employees. All options granted on December 15, 2005 were immediately vested with a seven year term.

     The form of Option Agreement that will be used for Mr. Oddleifson, is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

     The form of Option Agreement that will be used for Mr. Fuerschbach, Ms. Lundquist, Mr. Jankowski, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Paciulli, Mr. Seksay, and Mr. Sheahan is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

Executive Compensation: Stock Option Award Acceleration

      On December 15, 2005 the Company accelerated the vesting of certain unvested “out-of-the-money” stock options previously awarded to Rockland Trust employees pursuant to the 1997 Plan so that they immediately vested as of December 15, 2005. A copy of the December 20, 2005 Press Release disclosing the action taken by the Company with respect to the acceleration of unvested stock options is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.

      In connection with and as a part of the Company’s acceleration of certain unvested “out-of-the-money” stock options on December 15, 2005, the vesting of stock options previously awarded to Executive Officers of the Company and/or of Rockland Trust from the 1997 Plan were also accelerated, as follows:

							# of Options			Exercise Price of
							Subject To			Options Subject to
							Accelerated			Accelerated
	Executive Officer			Position			Vesting			Vesting
	Christopher Oddleifson			President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of Rockland Trust			20,666			$ 34.18
	Raymond G. Fuerschbach			Senior Vice President, Human Resources, of Rockland Trust			5,000			$ 34.18
	Edward F. Jankowski			Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Rockland Trust			5,000			$ 34.18
	Ferdinand T. Kelley			Executive Vice President (Commercial Lending Division and Investment Management Group) of Rockland Trust			8,000			$34.18

	Jane L. Lundquist			Executive Vice President (Director of Retail Banking and Corporate Marketing) of Rockland Trust			3,333   8,000			$32.765   $ 34.18
	Anthony A. Paciulli			Managing Director (Residential Mortgage) of Rockland Trust			6,666			$ 34.18
	Edward H. Seksay			General Counsel of the Company and of Rockland Trust			5,000			$ 34.18
	Denis K. Sheahan			Chief Financial Officer of the Company and of Rockland Trust			8,000			$ 34.18

ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

     See Item 1.01 above.  
 
 
 

SIGNATURE

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