M&T Bank 10-Q 2021-09-30

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021

or

Commission File Number 1-9861

M&T BANK CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(716) 635-4000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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 ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No

Number of shares of the registrant's Common Stock, $0.50 par value, outstanding as of the close of business on October 29, 2021: 128,684,567 shares.

M&T BANK CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2021

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

M&T BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

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M&T BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited)

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Overview

Net income for M&T Bank Corporation (“M&T”) in the third quarter of 2021 was $495 million, up from $372 million in the corresponding quarter of 2020 and $458 million in the second quarter of 2021. Diluted and basic earnings per common share were $3.69 and $3.70, respectively, in the recent quarter. Diluted and basic earnings per common share in the third quarter of 2020 were each $2.75 and in the second quarter of 2021 were each $3.41. The after-tax impact of merger-related expenses was $7 million ($9 million pre-tax), or $.05 of basic and diluted earnings per common share in the recent quarter and $3 million ($4 million pre-tax), or $.02 of basic and diluted earnings per common share in the second quarter of 2021. Such expenses were associated with M&T’s pending acquisition of People’s United Financial, Inc. (“People’s United”), headquartered in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and consisted predominantly of professional services related to planned integration efforts associated with the merger. Net income aggregated $1.40 billion or $10.43 of diluted earnings per common share and $10.44 of basic earnings per common share in the first nine months of 2021, compared with $882 million or $6.42 of diluted and basic earnings per common share in the year-earlier period. After-tax merger related expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 were $17 million ($23 million pre-tax), or $.13 of basic and diluted earnings per common share. There were no merger-related expenses during 2020.

The annualized rate of return on average total assets for M&T and its consolidated subsidiaries (“the Company”) in the third quarter of 2021 was 1.28%, compared with 1.06 % in the third quarter of 2020 and 1.22% in 2021’s second quarter. The annualized rate of return on average common shareholders’ equity was 12.16% in the recent quarter, 9.53% in the year-earlier quarter and 11.55% in the second quarter of 2021. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, the annualized rates of return on average assets and average common shareholders’ equity were 1.24% and 11.76%, respectively, compared with .89% and 7.57%, respectively, in the similar 2020 period.

On February 22, 2021, M&T announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with People’s United under which People’s United will be acquired by M&T in an all-stock transaction. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, People’s United shareholders will receive consideration valued at .118 of an M&T share in the form of M&T common stock. People’s United outstanding preferred stock will be converted to a new series of M&T preferred stock upon completion of the acquisition. The transaction is valued at approximately $7.6 billion (with the price based on M&T’s closing price of $149.34 per share as of September 30, 2021).

As of September 30, 2021, People’s United reported $63.7 billion of assets, including $39.5 billion of loans and $10.5 billion of investment securities, $55.9 billion of liabilities, including $52.9 billion of deposits, and $7.8 billion of stockholders’ equity. The merger has been approved by the common shareholders of M&T and People’s United, but remains subject to approval by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The merger is expected to be completed promptly after the parties have obtained that approval and satisfied other customary closing conditions.

Financial results during 2020 and through the third quarter of 2021 were adversely impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic. Large portions of the U.S. economy were substantially curtailed for extended periods of time and, as a result, many commercial and consumer customers were negatively impacted. Specifically, those adverse economic impacts resulted in the Company recognizing elevated levels of provisions for credit losses during 2020 that reflected projections of credit losses based on macroeconomic forecasts at the end of each quarter of that year. The Company recorded provisions for credit losses of $150 million and $725 million in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2020. An improvement in economic conditions and forecasts at the end of each of the first three quarters of 2021 as compared with previous forecasts led the Company to recognize provision recaptures of $20 million and $60 million in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. In response to the pandemic, the Federal Reserve took actions to lower interest rates that have negatively affected the Company’s net interest income since the beginning of the pandemic.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law. The CARES Act and applicable extensions provide relief to borrowers, including the opportunity to defer loan payments while not negatively affecting their credit standing, and also provided funding opportunities for small businesses under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) from approved Small Business Administration (“SBA”)

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lenders, including M&T Bank, the principal bank subsidiary of M&T. For commercial and consumer customers, the Company provided a host of relief options, including payment deferrals (including maturity extensions), loan covenant waivers and low interest rate loan products. M&T Bank funded approximately $7.0 billion of PPP loans during 2020 and another $2.9 billion in 2021. PPP loans outstanding at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 totaled $2.2 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively.

Updated economic forecasts at the end of each of the quarters of 2020 resulted in higher estimates of expected credit losses in the Company’s loan portfolio than at January 1, 2020, when the Company adopted amended accounting guidance for the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, resulting in historically high levels of the provision for credit losses. Specifically, the level of the provision in 2020 reflected the ongoing impacts of the pandemic on economic activity in the hospitality and retail sectors, the uncertainty at December 31, 2020 as to the sufficiency and effectiveness of economic stimulus provided by the U.S. government to the economy, and concerns about ultimate collectability of real estate loans where borrowers requested re-payment forbearance. Improvement in the economic outlook at the end of each of the first three quarters of 2021 resulted in reduced estimates of expected credit losses. Nevertheless, concerns remain about large sectors of the economy, including the hotel, healthcare and office space sectors, and possible threat of resurgence of spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Company expects that certain aspects of its businesses will continue to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic after September 30, 2021.

The national effort to mitigate the pandemic resulted in a challenging environment for businesses and their employees. The Company took actions designed to help maintain a safe environment for its customers and employees and to provide relief to customers in a variety of ways. Examples of those actions include:

| | • | The vast majority of the

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Incorporated by reference to the discussion contained under the caption “Taxable-equivalent Net Interest Income” in Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

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(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. Based upon their evaluation of the effectiveness of M&T’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), René F. Jones, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Darren J. King, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that M&T’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2021.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting. M&T regularly assesses the adequacy of its internal control over financial reporting and enhances its controls in response to internal control assessments and internal and external audit and regulatory recommendations. No changes in internal control over financial reporting have been identified in connection with the evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures during the quarter ended September 30, 2021 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, M&T’s internal control over financial reporting.

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic during the first quarter of 2020 necessitated the execution of several M&T contingency plans. Beginning in March 2020 and continuing through this filing date, the Company had a substantial number of its employees working remotely under such contingency plans.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings. | --- | --- |

M&T and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings and other matters in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. On an on-going basis management, after consultation with legal counsel, assesses the Company’s liabilities and contingencies in connection with such proceedings. For those matters where it is probable that the Company will incur losses and the amounts of the losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company records an expense and corresponding liability in its consolidated financial statements. To the extent the pending or threatened litigation could result in exposure in excess of that liability, the amount of such excess is not currently estimable. Although not considered probable, the range of reasonably possible losses for such matters in the aggregate, beyond the existing recorded liability, was between $0 and $25 million. Although the Company does not believe that the outcome of pending legal matters will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, it cannot rule out the possibility that such outcomes will be material to the consolidated results of operations for a particular reporting period in the future.

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In addition to the risk factors disclosed in response to Item 1A to Part I of M&T’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, M&T has identified certain supplemental risk factors relating to M&T’s acquisition of People’s United Financial, Inc. (“People’s United”) pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger, dated February 21, 2021, by and among M&T, Bridge Merger Corp., a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of M&T, and People’s United (the “merger agreement” and, such transaction, the “merger”). These risk factors and other risks associated with the merger are more fully discussed in the joint proxy statement/prospectus in connection with the merger that was filed by M&T with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2021.

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Risks Related to the Merger

M&T is expected to incur significant costs related to the merger and integration.

M&T has incurred and expects to incur significant, non-recurring costs in connection with negotiating the merger agreement and closing the merger. In addition, M&T will incur integration costs following the completion of the merger as M&T integrates the People’s United business, including facilities and systems consolidation costs and employment-related costs.

There can be no assurances that the expected benefits and efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses will be realized to offset these transaction and integration costs over time. M&T may also incur additional costs to maintain employee morale and to retain key employees. M&T will also incur significant legal, financial advisory, accounting, banking and consulting fees, fees relating to regulatory filings and notices, SEC filing fees, printing and mailing fees and other costs associated with the merger. Some of these costs are payable regardless of whether the merger is completed.

Combining M&T and People’s United may be more difficult, costly or time-consuming than expected, and M&T may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger.

The success of the merger will depend, in part, on the ability to realize the anticipated cost savings from combining the businesses of M&T and People’s United. To realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings from the merger M&T and People’s United must integrate and combine their businesses in a manner that permits cost savings to be realized, without adversely affecting revenues and future growth. If M&T and People’s United are not able to successfully achieve these objectives, the anticipated benefits of the merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected. In addition, the actual cost savings of the merger could be less than anticipated, and integration may result in additional and unforeseen expenses.

An inability to realize the full extent of the anticipated benefits of the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, as well as any delays encountered in the integration process, could have an adverse effect upon the revenues, levels of expenses and operating results of M&T following the completion of the merger, which may adversely affect the value of M&T’s common stock following the completion of the merger.

M&T and People’s United have operated and, until the completion of the merger, must continue to operate, independently. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of each company’s ongoing businesses or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect the companies’ abilities to maintain relationships with clients, customers, depositors and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the merger. Integration efforts between the two companies may also divert management attention and resources. These integration matters could have an adverse effect on M&T during this transition period and for an undetermined period after completion of the merger.

M&T may be unable to retain M&T and/or People’s United personnel successfully after the merger is completed.

The success of the merger will depend in part on M&T’s ability to retain the talents and dedication of key employees currently employed by M&T and People’s United. It is possible that these employees may decide not to remain with M&T or People’s United, as applicable, while the merger is pending or with M&T after the merger is completed. If M&T and People’s United are unable to retain key employees, including management, who are critical to the successful integration and future operations of the companies, M&T and People’s United could face disruptions in their operations, loss of existing customers, loss of key information, expertise or know-how and unanticipated additional recruitment costs. In addition, following the merger, if key employees terminate their employment, M&T’s business activities may be adversely affected, and management’s attention may be diverted from successfully integrating M&T and People’s United to hiring suitable replacements, all of which may cause M&T’s business to suffer. In addition, M&T and People’s United may not be able to locate or retain suitable replacements for any key employees who leave either company.

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The COVID-19 pandemic may delay and adversely affect the completion of the merger.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic has created economic and financial disruptions that have adversely affected, and are likely to continue to adversely affect, the business, financial condition, liquidity, capital and results of operations of M&T and People’s United. If the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic cause a continued or extended decline in the economic environment and the financial results of M&T or People’s United, or the business operations of M&T or People’s United are further disrupted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts to complete the merger and integrate the businesses of M&T and People’s United may also be delayed and adversely affected. Additional time may be required to obtain the requisite regulatory approval, and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) may impose additional requirements on M&T or People’s United that must be satisfied prior to completion of the merger, which could delay and adversely affect the completion of the merger.

Regulatory approval from the Federal Reserve Board may not be received, may take longer than expected, or may impose conditions that are not presently anticipated or that could have an adverse effect on M&T following the merger.

Before the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement may be completed, certain regulatory approvals must be obtained. Approvals from the New York State Department of Financial Services and the State of Connecticut Department of Banking, among other regulatory approvals, have been received but the transaction remains subject to approval from the Federal Reserve Board. That approval could be delayed or not obtained at all, including due to: an adverse development in either party’s regulatory standing or in any other factors considered by regulators when granting such approval, including factors not known at the present time and factors that may arise in the future; governmental, political or community group inquiries, investigations or opposition; or changes in legislation or the political environment generally. The Federal Reserve Board has stated that if material weaknesses are identified by examiners before a banking organization applies to engage in expansionary activity, the Federal Reserve Board will expect the banking organization to resolve all such weaknesses before applying for such expansionary activity. The Federal Reserve Board has also stated that if issues arise during the processing of an application for expansionary activity, it will expect the applicant banking organization to withdraw its application pending resolution of any supervisory concerns.

Any Federal Reserve Board approval, if granted, may impose terms and conditions, limitations, obligations or costs, or place restrictions on the conduct of M&T’s business or require changes to the terms of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. There can be no assurance that the regulator will not impose any such conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions and that such conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions will not have the effect of delaying the completion of any of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, imposing additional material costs on or materially limiting the revenues of M&T following the merger or otherwise reduce the anticipated benefits of the merger if the merger were consummated successfully within the expected timeframe. In addition, there can be no assurance that any such conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions will not result in the delay or abandonment of the merger. Additionally, the completion of the merger is conditioned on the absence of certain orders, injunctions or decrees by any court or regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction that would prohibit or make illegal the completion of any of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

In addition, despite the parties’ commitments to use their reasonable best efforts to comply with conditions imposed by regulators, under the terms of the merger agreement, M&T will not be required, and People’s United will not be permitted without M&T’s prior written consent, to take actions or agree to conditions in connection with obtaining the foregoing permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of governmental entities that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on M&T and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, after giving effect to the merger.

Failure to complete the merger could negatively impact M&T.

If the merger is not completed for any reason, there may be various adverse consequences and M&T may experience negative reactions from the financial markets and from its customers and employees. For example, M&T’s business may have been impacted adversely by the failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of

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management on the merger, without realizing any of the anticipated benefits of completing the merger. Additionally, if the merger agreement is terminated, the market price of M&T common stock could decline to the extent that the current market price of M&T common stock reflects a market assumption that the merger will be beneficial to M&T and will be completed. M&T could be subject to litigation related to any failure to complete the merger or to proceedings commenced against M&T to perform its obligations under the merger agreement. If the merger agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, M&T may be required to pay a termination fee of $280 million to People’s United.

Additionally, M&T has incurred and will incur substantial expenses in connection with the negotiation and completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, as well as the costs and expenses of preparing, filing, printing and mailing the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the merger, and all filing and other fees paid in connection with the merger. If the merger is not completed, M&T would have incurred these expenses without realizing the expected benefits of the merger.

M&T will be subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the merger is pending.

Uncertainty about the effect of the merger on employees and customers may have an adverse effect on M&T. These uncertainties may impair M&T’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel until the merger is completed, and could cause customers and others that deal with M&T to seek to change existing business relationships with M&T. In addition, subject to certain exceptions, M&T has agreed to refrain from taking certain actions that may adversely affect its ability to consummate the merger on a timely basis without People’s United’s consent. These restrictions may prevent M&T from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to the completion of the merger.

Litigation related to the merger has been filed against People’s United, the People’s United board of directors and M&T, and additional litigation may be filed against People’s United, the People’s United board of directors, M&T and the M&T board of directors in the future, which could prevent or delay the completion of the merger, result in the payment of damages or otherwise negatively impact the business and operations of M&T.

Litigation related to the merger has been filed against People’s United, the People’s United board of directors and M&T, and additional litigation may be filed against People’s United, the People’s United board of directors, M&T and the M&T board of directors in the future. Among other remedies, litigation that has been filed seeks, and additional litigation by shareholders of M&T and/or stockholders of People’s United in the future may seek, damages and/or to enjoin the merger or the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The outcome of any litigation is uncertain. If any plaintiff were successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting M&T or People’s United from completing the merger or any other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, then such injunction may delay or prevent the effectiveness of the merger and could result in significant costs to M&T, including costs in connection with the defense or settlement of any shareholder lawsuits filed in connection with the merger. Further, such lawsuits and the defense or settlement of any such lawsuits may have an adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of M&T.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on M&T’s business and operations following the completion of the merger is uncertain.

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will negatively affect the business, financial condition, liquidity, capital and results of operations of M&T following the completion of the merger will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the COVID‑19 pandemic, the direct and indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employees, clients, counterparties and service providers, as well as other market participants, and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the ongoing and dynamic nature of the circumstances, it is difficult to predict the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on M&T’s business, and there is no guarantee that efforts by M&T to address the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic will be effective.

Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, M&T may continue to experience adverse impacts to its business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s global economic impact, including reduced availability of credit, adverse impacts on liquidity and the negative financial effects from any recession or depression that may occur.

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. | --- | --- |

(a) – (b) Not applicable.

(c)

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities. | --- | --- |

(Not applicable.)

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. | --- | --- |

(None.)

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(None.)

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The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

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