11-K - as of December 31, 2014


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 1-9047

A.
Full title of the pan and the address of the plan, if different from that of issuer named below:

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings,
Profit Sharing, and Stock Ownership Plan

B.
Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan and the address of its principal office:

Independent Bank Corp.
Office Address: 2036 Washington Street, Hanover, Massachusetts
Mailing Address: 288 Union Street, Rockland, Massachusetts 02370

As filed on June 26, 2015







Table of Contents
 
 
 
ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY
 
 
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS, PROFIT SHARING AND
 
 
STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
 
 
 
 
Contents
Page
Financial Statements
 
 
Supplemental Schedule*
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit Index
 
 
Exhibit 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 
 
 
 
* Other schedules, required by Section 2520.103.10 of the Department of Labor Rules and Regulations and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they were not applicable.
 
 
 







Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Retirement Committee
Rockland Trust Company:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2014, has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The information in the supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule. In forming our opinion on the information, we evaluated whether such information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.

                            
June 26, 2015


1




ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS, PROFIT SHARING AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
 
December 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Assets
 
 
 
 
Investments, at fair value
 
 
 
 
Mutual funds
 
$
69,627,520

 
$
61,939,201

Collective investment trusts
 
17,251,068

 
16,082,150

Independent Bank Corp. common stock
 
10,210,993

 
10,179,830

Personal access fund
 
412,229

 
434,742

Total investments, at fair value
 
97,501,810

 
88,635,923

Notes receivable from participants
 
3,045,359

 
2,736,162

Total assets
 
100,547,169

 
91,372,085

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Excess contributions payable
 
133,193

 
8,788

Total liabilities
 
133,193

 
8,788

Net assets available for benefits, at fair value
 
100,413,976

 
91,363,297

Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
 
(129,001
)
 
(93,637
)
Net assets available for benefits
 
$
100,284,975

 
$
91,269,660


See accompanying notes.





2




ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS, PROFIT SHARING AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Additions
 
 
 
 
Investment income
 
 
 
 
Net (depreciation) appreciation in fair value of investments
 
$
(1,030,010
)
 
$
13,545,952

Interest and dividends
 
6,804,246

 
2,488,446

 
 
5,774,236

 
16,034,398

Interest income on notes receivable from participants
 
91,573

 
84,278

Contributions
 
 
 
 
Participant
 
5,439,860

 
5,589,428

Employer
 
4,241,977

 
3,913,938

 
 
9,681,837

 
9,503,366

Total additions
 
15,547,646

 
25,622,042

Deductions
 
 
 
 
Benefit payments
 
6,511,762

 
5,325,292

Administrative expenses
 
20,569

 
22,215

Total deductions
 
6,532,331

 
5,347,507

Net increase
 
9,015,315

 
20,274,535

Net assets available for benefits
 
 
 
 
Beginning of year
 
91,269,660

 
70,995,125

End of year
 
$
100,284,975

 
$
91,269,660

See accompanying notes.


3

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014




(1)
Description of the Plan
The following description of the Rockland Trust Company (the “Company” or “Plan Sponsor” or “Plan Administrator”) Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan Document for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions.
(a)
General
The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all eligible employees of the Company. Full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate in the Plan, regardless of age. In order to be eligible to receive the Company matching contributions, qualified non-elective contributions, and supplemental non-elective contributions, employees must have completed one year of service, which is defined as 1,000 hours of service. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).
(b)
Contributions
Under the provisions of the Plan, subject to Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) limitations, employees who participate in the Plan may contribute up to 99% of their compensation each payroll period on a pre‑tax basis and up to an additional 10% of their compensation on an after‑tax basis. However, the total contribution may not exceed 99% of compensation. Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified plans.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, the IRS contribution limit was $17,500 with a $5,500 catch‑up provision for participants age 50 or above.    
The Plan provides for automatic enrollment. All employees will be deemed to have made an election to defer 6% of their compensation commencing with the first payroll following thirty days of employment. All employees are given notice regarding this enrollment feature and may elect a different deferral election or make no deferral at that time.
Participants direct their contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan. The Plan currently offers 18 mutual funds, two collective investment trusts and a personal access fund, which is an investment option that enables participants to set up their own brokerage account, with all related brokerage fees incurred by the participant, through TD Ameritrade Brokerage Services, Inc. Prior to October of 2014, the brokerage account would have been set up through State Street Brokerage Services, Inc. The Plan also offers the common stock of Independent Bank Corp., the parent company of the Plan Sponsor, as an investment option for the participants.
Under the Plan, the Company will contribute the following:
1)
Matching contributions equal to 25% of the amount of the salary the employee elected to defer (less any catch up contributions), up to the first 6% of the employee's qualified compensation (subject to IRS limitations). Company matching contributions to the Plan are made each pay period, therefore, a participant must be actively employed and making a pre-tax employee deferral during that pay period in order to share in the matching contribution.

2)
Non-elective contributions for each participant equal to 5% of qualified compensation. Company non-elective contributions to the Plan are made each pay period, therefore, a participant must be actively employed and receiving eligible compensation during that pay period in order to share in the non-elective contribution.

4

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014


3)
Supplemental non-elective contributions equal to 5% of the amount by which an employee's eligible compensation exceeds the Social Security wage base (an amount published each year by the Social Security Administration, and indexed for inflation). For 2014, the Social Security wage base is $117,000. The supplemental non-elective contribution is also subject to certain other limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). Company supplemental non-elective contributions to the Plan are made each pay period, when applicable, therefore, a participant must be actively employed and receiving eligible compensation during that pay period in order to share in the supplemental non-elective contribution.

4)
Discretionary contributions for employees that are actively employed on the last day of the Plan year. In addition, those participants whose employment terminated during the year because of retirement under the Company's retirement plan or because of disability, death or for any reason after the attainment of age 65 shall share in the discretionary contribution. The discretionary contribution is allocated to the individual accounts of qualifying participants in the ratio that each qualifying participant's compensation for the Plan year bears to the total compensation of all qualifying participants. There were no discretionary contributions made in 2014 or 2013.

5)
Qualified non-elective contributions can be made on behalf of each non-highly compensated participant. The Company may make a qualified non-elective contribution equal to a uniform percentage of compensation, which percentage will be determined each year by the employer. Participants must complete a year of service during the Plan year and be actively employed on the last day of the Plan year to share in this qualified non-elective contribution. There were no qualified non-elective contributions made in 2014 or 2013.

(c)
Participant Accounts
Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution and allocations of (i) the Company's contributions and (ii) Plan earnings. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined by the Plan. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account.
(d)
Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in their contributions and rollover contributions plus actual earnings thereon. The Company's contribution portion of their accounts plus actual earnings thereon, which are received after meeting certain eligibility requirements are also immediately vested.
(e)
Loans to Participants
Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum loan amount of $500 up to a maximum of $50,000 (reduced by the highest outstanding loan balance in the previous 12 months over the current outstanding loan balance) or 50% of the participants' vested Contribution Account Balance, as defined by the Plan's Loan Policy whichever is less. No more than four loans per participant may be outstanding. The loans are secured by the vested balance in the participant's account and bear interest at rates that range from 3.25% to 8.25%, as determined by the Plan Administrator, which are commensurate with local prevailing rates. Loans must be repaid within five years; however, loans for the purchase of a primary residence may be repaid over a longer period, as determined by the Plan Administrator.
(f)
Payment of Benefits
Upon termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant may elect to receive an amount equal to the value of the participant's interest in his or her account in a lump-sum distribution (rollover treatment, if eligible), or installment payments over a period of not more than the employee's assumed life expectancy. However, if the employee's vested benefits under the Plan do not exceed $5,000, the benefit will be distributed in a single lump-sum distribution (rollover treatment required by the IRS if timely notice is not received from the employee).

5

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014


At the discretion of the Plan Administrator, in the event of extreme financial hardship as defined in applicable IRC, a participant may withdraw some or all of their vested balances subject to applicable penalties.
Distribution of benefits attributable to investments other than those attributable to the Independent Bank Corp. common stock will be in the form of cash. Distribution of benefits attributable to the Independent Bank Corp. common stock will be in the form of cash, Independent Bank Corp. common stock, or both, at the participant's discretion.
(g)
Dividend Reinvestment and Voting Rights
Dividends paid on investments in Independent Bank Corp. common stock within the Plan will be paid to the Plan and allocated to participant accounts and may be distributed in cash not later than 90 days after the close of the Plan year in which they were paid, or may be reinvested in Independent Bank Corp. common stock. Dividends reinvested may participate in the Company's 2014 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan which may allow up to a 5% discount of dividends reinvested in Independent Bank Corp. common stock.
Participants (or beneficiaries), as holders of Independent Bank Corp. common stock, will direct DWS Trust Company, the Plan Trustee, as to the manner in which the voting rights are to be exercised for all Independent Bank Corp. common stock held as part of the Plan assets.
(h)
Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, no further contributions will be made to the Plan and all amounts credited to participants' accounts will continue to be 100% vested. The distribution of the accounts will be done as soon as practicable in a manner permitted by the Plan.

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)
Basis of Accounting
The accompanying financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual basis of accounting.
(b)
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements, accompanying notes, and supplemental schedule. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(c)
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. an exit price). See Note 4 for further discussion and disclosures related to fair value measurements.
The Putnam Stable Value Fund invests in fully benefit responsive guaranteed investment contracts ("GICs"). This fund is recorded at fair value; however, since the contract is fully benefit-responsive, an adjustment is reflected in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits to present the investment at contract value. Contract value is the relevant measurement attributable to fully benefit responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan. The contract value represents contributions, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administration expenses.

6

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014


Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded as earned. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments includes the Plan's realized gains or losses on investments sold, as well as unrealized gain or loss on investments held during the year.
(d)
Notes Receivable From Participants
Notes receivable from participants represent participant loans that are recorded at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income on notes receivable from participants is recorded when it is earned. Related fees are recorded as administrative expenses and are expensed when they are incurred. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded as of December 31, 2014 or 2013. If a participant ceases to make loan repayments for a period of time, in accordance with the Plan, the loan will be deemed distributed. Upon distribution, the participant loan balance is reduced and a benefit payment is recorded. Deemed distributions totaled $88,712 and $58,197 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(e)
Benefits Paid
Benefits are recorded upon distribution. At December 31, 2014 there was $171,237 allocated to accounts of participants who had elected to withdraw from the plan, but had not yet been paid.
(f)
Refundable Contributions
There were $133,193 and $8,788 of contributions made in excess of amounts allowed by the Internal Revenue Service, at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These contributions were refunded by the Plan to certain participants after the end of the Plan year and are included as a Plan payable on the Statement of Net Assets and a reduction to participant contributions on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.
(g)
Administrative Expenses
The Company pays all expenses of the Plan at the option of the Company. Participant specific loan issuance and loan maintenance fees are paid by the specific participant and reflected in the Plan's Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.
(h)
New Accounting Pronouncements
FASB ASC Topic 820 "Fair Value Measurement" Update No. 2015-07. Update No. 2015-07 was issued in May 2015 to address the diversity in practice related to how certain investments measured at net asset value with redemption dates in the future are categorized within the fair value hierarchy. The amendments in this updated remove the requirement to categorized within the fair value hierarchy all investments for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient. The amendments also remove the requirement to make certain disclosures for all investments that are eligible to be measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient. Rather, those disclosures are limited to investments for which the entity has elected to measure the fair value using that practical expedient. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Plan's consolidated financial position.



7

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014



(3) Investments
The following table presents investments in the accompanying Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits for which the fair value exceeded 5% of the Plan's net assets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
Fair Value
 
Description of Investment
2014
 
2013
 
Janus Balanced Fund - T
$
12,670,531

 
$
10,898,161

 
DWS Stock Index Trust
10,296,636

 
8,840,621

 
Independent Bank Corp. common stock
10,210,993

 
10,179,830

 
DWS Large Cap Value Fund - S
7,882,672

 
6,355,129

 
Janus Research Fund - T
7,858,390

 
6,589,945

 
Putnam Stable Value Fund (contract value $6,825,431 and $7,147,892)
6,954,432

 
7,241,529

 
Templeton Foreign Fund - A
5,945,471

 
4,980,247

 
Neuberger Berman Genesis Fund - Trust
5,691,367

 
5,724,841

 
DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund - S
5,174,495

 
4,730,272

 
T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund
5,094,859

 
4,610,167

 
Federated Total Return Bond Fund - R
5,062,944

 
n/a

(1)
DWS Global Income Builder Fund - S
n/a

 
4,702,154

(2)
(1) Investment did not exceed 5% of the Plan's net assets as of December 31, 2013.
(2) Investment did not exceed 5% of the Plan's net assets as of December 31, 2014.

During 2014 and 2013, the Plan's investments appreciated (depreciated) in fair value (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as unrealized gains or losses on investments held during the year) as follows:
 
2014
 
2013
Investments at fair value as determined by quoted market prices
 
 
 
Mutual funds
$
(3,172,785
)
 
$
8,640,369

Common stock
892,562

 
2,646,198

Personal access fund
30,172

 
75,892

Net (depreciation) appreciation
(2,250,051
)
 
11,362,459

Investments at estimated fair value
 
 
 
Collective investment trusts - DWS Stock Index Fund
1,220,041

 
2,183,493

Net (depreciation) appreciation in fair value of investments
$
(1,030,010
)
 
$
13,545,952


(4) Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is a market-based measure considered from the perspective of a market participant rather than an entity-specific measure. Therefore, even when market assumptions are not readily available, the Plan’s own assumptions are set to reflect those that the Plan believes market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. If there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability, regardless of the valuation technique(s) used, the objective of a fair value measurement remains the same. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction (that is, not a forced liquidation or distressed sale) between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. The Plan uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, including during periods of market dislocation. In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments. This condition could cause an instrument to be reclassified from one level to another.
The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC defines fair value and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest

8

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014


priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC are described below:
Level 1 — Inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 — Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3 — Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised by the Plan in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Valuation Techniques
Mutual Funds
These investments are valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. Mutual funds held by the Plan are open-ended mutual funds that are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value ("NAV") and to transact at that price. The mutual funds held by the Plan are deemed to be actively traded.
Collective Investment Trusts
Investments in a collective investment trust are valued at the NAV as determined by using estimated fair value of the underlying assets held in the fund. NAV is used as a practical expedient for fair value. The NAV is provided by the investment manager of the trust. The underlying investments of the stable value funds consist of short term investments, GICs and synthetic GICs. Short term investments are stated at contract value which approximates fair value. GICs are valued using a discounted cash flow methodology where individual contract cash flows are discounted at the prevailing market interpolated GIC rate as of the year end. Synthetic GICs are valued based on the underlying investments. Fixed income underlying investments are valued on the basis of the valuations furnished by the Trustee-approved independent pricing services, which determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities. Investment contracts are valued at contract value which represents invested principal plus contractual interest earned thereon. There are currently no redemption restrictions on these investments.
Common Stock
Independent Bank Corp. common stock and common stock held in participant-directed brokerage accounts are stated at fair value as quoted on a recognized securities exchange and are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the Plan year.
Personal Access Fund
The personal access fund is comprised of investments in mutual funds, common stocks, and cash and cash equivalents. The underlying investments of the personal access funds are grouped with their similar investment types in the table below.

9

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014


The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan's assets at fair value, on a recurring basis, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
 
 
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
 
 
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
 
Significant Other Observable Inputs
 
Significant Unobservable Inputs
 
 
Balance
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
Description
 
As of December 31, 2014
Mutual funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balanced funds
 
$
17,356,451

 
$
17,356,451

 
$

 
$

Growth funds
 
43,400,051

 
43,400,051

 

 

Fixed income funds
 
8,310,426

 
8,310,426

 

 

Other funds
 
707,826

 
707,826

 

 

Collective investment trusts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Putnam Stable Value Fund (1)
 
6,954,432

 

 
6,954,432

 

DWS Stock Index Trust (2)
 
10,296,636

 

 
10,296,636

 

Common stock
 
10,346,433

 
10,346,433

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
129,555

 
129,555

 

 

 
 
$
97,501,810

 
$
80,250,742

 
$
17,251,068

 
$

 
 
 
Description
 
As of December 31, 2013
Mutual funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balanced funds
 
$
15,635,422

 
$
15,635,422

 
$

 
$

Growth funds
 
38,806,284

 
38,806,284

 

 

Fixed income funds
 
7,131,999

 
7,131,999

 

 

Other funds
 
507,436

 
507,436

 

 

Collective investment trusts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Putnam Stable Value Fund (1)
 
7,241,529

 

 
7,241,529

 

DWS Stock Index Trust (2)
 
8,840,621

 

 
8,840,621

 

Common stock
 
10,304,178

 
10,304,178

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents
 
168,454

 
168,454

 

 

 
 
$
88,635,923

 
$
72,553,773

 
$
16,082,150

 
$

(1) This fund seeks capital preservation and current income when consistent with capital preservation. To enhance income, the fund can invest in a wider range of securities than a money market fund, including short-term bonds and GICs.
(2) This fund seeks to match, before fees and expenses, the performance of the S&P 500 index which emphasizes stocks of large US companies. The fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies that make up the S&P 500 index, in approximately the same weightings as the index. The Fund may also invest in derivative instruments, such as stock index futures contracts and options relating to the benchmark.
  
The Plan has no assets that are measured on a nonrecurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.

There were no transfers between the Levels of the fair value hierarchy for any assets measured at fair value for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. In addition, there were no Level 3 investments for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.





10

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014


(5) Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500

The following is a reconciliation of total assets per the audited financial statements to the Form 5500 at December 31, 2014 and 2013:
 
 
2014
 
2013
Net assets available for benefits per the audited financial statements
 
$
100,284,975

 
$
91,269,660

Less: deemed distributed loans (1)
 
(88,712
)
 
(58,197
)
Plus: adjustment to fair value from contract value for fully benefit-responsive contracts
 
129,001

 
93,637

Total assets per the Form 5500, Schedule H, Part 1 (line 1(f))
 
$
100,325,264

 
$
91,305,100



The following is a reconciliation of benefit payments per the audited financial statements to the Form 5500:

 
 
2014
 
2013
Benefit payments per the audited financial statements
 
$
6,511,762

 
$
5,325,292

Less: payments of deemed distributed loans including interest (1)
 
(24,104
)
 
(64,095
)
Plus: deemed distributed loans
 
54,619

 
52,238

Benefits paid to participants per the Form 5500
 
$
6,542,277

 
$
5,313,435



The following is a reconciliation of total additions per the audited financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
 
2014
 
2013
Total additions per the audited financial statements
 
$
15,547,646

 
$
25,622,042

Plus/Less: Increase (decrease) in excess contribution payable
 

 
(42,961
)
Plus: adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully benefit-responsive contracts
 
35,364

 
(130,100
)
Total income per the Form 5500
 
$
15,583,010

 
$
25,448,981


(1) In the financial statements of the Plan, delinquent loans remain as assets of the Plan. However, for the Form 5500 reporting purposes delinquent loans are removed from Plan assets and reported as a benefit paid to a participant.

The accompanying financial statements present fully benefit-responsive investment contracts at contract value. The Form 5500 reports fully benefit-responsive investment contracts at fair value. Therefore, the adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts represents a reconciling item.


(6) Risks and Uncertainties

The variety of investment options are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit and overall market volatility risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

(7) Related‑Party and Parties-in-Interest Transactions

Investments in shares of the common stock of Independent Bank Corp., the parent company of the Company, qualify as related party transactions. Certain collective investment trusts and mutual funds managed by DWS Trust Company, the Plan Trustee as defined by the Plan, qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Transactions with respect to participant loans also qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

11

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014



(8) Tax Status

The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) dated September 19, 2013 stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and therefore the related trust is exempt from taxation. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualified status. The plan administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and therefore believes the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax-exempt.
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States require plan management to evaluate uncertain tax positions taken by the Plan. The financial statement effects of a tax position are recognized when the position is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, to be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan Administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, there were no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken. The Plan has recognized no interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no audits for any tax periods in progress. The Plan Administrator believes it is no longer subject to income tax examinations for years prior to 2011.

(9) Plan Merger and Amendment

Effective November 15, 2013, the Plan was amended for the merger of the Mayflower Bancorp, Inc. ("Mayflower") employees into the Company. The amendment provides for the determination of benefits for certain former employees of Mayflower Co-operative Bank. The Mayflower Co-operative Bank 401(k) Plan was a multi-employer plan and thus there will be no transfer of assets, however rollover contributions into the Plan will be allowed.


12

Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2014


(10) Subsequent Event

Effective February 20, 2015, the Plan was amended for the merger of the Peoples Federal Bancshares, Inc. ("Peoples") employees into the Company. The amendment provides for the determination of benefits for certain former employees of Peoples Federal Savings Bank and will allow for rollover contributions into the Plan.


13



 
ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY
 
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS, PROFIT SHARING AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
 
Plan No: 002
 
E.I.N: 04-1782600
 
December 31, 2014
 
Identity of Issue, Borrower, or Similar Party
 
Description of Investment Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par or Maturity Value
 
Current Value
 
Janus Balanced Fund - T
 
Mutual Fund
 
$
12,670,531

*
DWS Large Cap Value Fund -S
 
Mutual Fund
 
7,882,672

 
Janus Research Fund - T
 
Mutual Fund
 
7,858,390

 
Templeton Foreign Fund - A
 
Mutual Fund
 
5,945,471

 
Neuberger Berman Genesis Trust
 
Mutual Fund
 
5,691,367

*
DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund - S
 
Mutual Fund
 
5,174,495

 
T. Rowe Price Growth Stock Fund
 
Mutual Fund
 
5,094,859

 
Federated Total Return Bond Fund
 
Mutual Fund
 
5,062,944

*
DWS Global Income Builder Fund - S
 
Mutual Fund
 
4,657,122

*
DWS Mid Cap Value Fund - S
 
Mutual Fund
 
2,473,488

 
Parametric Emerging Markets Fund - Investor Class
 
Mutual Fund
 
1,329,975

 
Wells Fargo Advantage International Bond Fund
 
Mutual Fund
 
1,019,147

*
DWS RREEF Global Real Estate Securities Fund - S
 
Mutual Fund
 
1,012,848

*
DWS Short Duration Fund - S
 
Mutual Fund
 
853,543

 
MFS Global High Yield Fund - A
 
Mutual Fund
 
822,605

 
Credit Suisse Commodity Return Strategy Fund - A
 
Mutual Fund
 
818,050

 
Hartford Floating Rate Fund - R4
 
Mutual Fund
 
707,826

*
DWS Global Inflation Fund - S
 
Mutual Fund
 
552,187

 
 
 
 
 
69,627,520

*
DWS Stock Index Trust
 
Collective Investment Trust
 
10,296,636

 
Putnam Stable Value Fund
 
Collective Investment Trust
 
6,954,432

 
 
 
 
 
17,251,068

*
Independent Bank Corp.
 
Common Stock
 
10,210,993

 
Personal Access Fund
 
 
 
 
 
TD Ameritrade Money Market Portfolio
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
129,555

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Microsoft Corporation
 
Common Stock
 
53,883

 
General Electric Company
 
Common Stock
 
30,526

*
Independent Bank Corp.
 
Common Stock
 
25,643

 
Pfizer Inc.
 
Common Stock
 
22,708

 
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
 
Common Stock
 
2,680

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund Investor Shares
 
Mutual Funds
 
50,185

 
Fidelity Contrafund
 
Mutual Funds
 
68,251

 
Vanguard Wellington Fund Investor Shares
 
Mutual Funds
 
28,798

 
 
 
 
 
412,229


14



 
ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY
 
EMPLOYEE SAVINGS, PROFIT SHARING AND STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
 
Plan No: 002
 
E.I.N: 04-1782600
 
December 31, 2014
 
Identity of Issue, Borrower, or Similar Party
 
Description of Investment Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par or Maturity Value
 
Current Value
*
Loans to Participants
 
Interest rates 3.25% to 8.25%
 
3,045,359

 
 
 
 
 
$
100,547,169

 
*Represents a party-in-interest
 
 
 
 
 
 


15





SIGNATURES

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


 
Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings, Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan
 
(Name of Plan)
 
 
Date: June 26, 2015
/s/ Robert Cozzone
 
Robert Cozzone
 
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Independent Bank Corp.


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