=============================================================================== 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, 2001 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 PLAN: The Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and Trust B. Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant To the Plan and the Address of its principal office: INDEPENDENT BANK CORP. 288 Union Street Rockland, Massachusetts 02370 As filed on June 28, 2002 =============================================================================== THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedule December 31, 2001 and 2000 (With Independent Auditors' Report Thereon) THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Independent Auditors' Report 1 Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 2 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2001 3 Notes to Financial Statements 4 - 8 SCHEDULE Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) 9 - 10 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The 401(k) Committee of The Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and Trust: We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets available for benefits of The Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and Trust as of December 31, 2001 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year then ended. These financial statements and the schedule referred to below are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audit. The statement of net assets available for benefits of The Rockland Trust Company Employee Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and Trust as of December 31, 2000 was audited by other auditors, whose report dated May 10, 2001, expressed an unqualified opinion on that statement. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides 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 as of December 31, 2001 and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Our audit was performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) is presented for purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ KPMG LLP Boston, Massachusetts June 27, 2002 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 2001 and 2000 2001 2000 ------------------- ------------------- Assets: Investments, at fair value (note 3): Collective investment trusts $ 4,955,093 4,369,054 Personal access fund 131,025 51,207 Common stock 5,707,525 3,416,018 Mutual funds: Bonds 381,486 184,114 Equity 9,967,022 11,336,325 Participant loans 601,552 579,678 ------------------- ------------------- 21,743,703 19,936,396 Cash 13,816 13,802 ------------------- ------------------- Total assets 21,757,519 19,950,198 ------------------- ------------------- Net assets available for benefits $ 21,757,519 19,950,198 =================== =================== See accompanying notes to financial statements. 2 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Year ended December 31, 2001 Additions: Additions to net assets attributed to: Investment (loss) income: Net depreciation in fair value of instruments (note 3) $ (211,942) Interest and dividends 437,221 ------------------ 225,279 Contributions: Participant 1,695,672 Employer 528,586 ------------------ 2,224,258 Transfer in 42,313 ------------------ Total additions 2,491,850 Deductions: Deductions from net assets attributed to: Benefits paid to participants 684,529 ------------------ 684,529 Total deductions ------------------ Net increase 1,807,321 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 19,950,198 ------------------ End of year $ 21,757,519 ================== See accompanying notes to financial statements. 3 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 (1) DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN The following description of the Rockland Trust Company (Company) Employee Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and Trust (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. (A) GENERAL The Plan is a defined contribution plan that is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The Plan was created on September 9, 1971 and restated effective January 1, 1989. Effective January 1, 1994, the Plan was amended to include provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 401(k) and the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Other subsequent amendments have also been made to the Plan. The Plan covers employees of the Company who meet specified eligibility requirements. Scudder Investments is the custodian and trustee of the Plan. A new plan document was also adopted effective August 1, 1999. (B) ELIGIBILITY An employee becomes a participant in the Plan upon completion of one year of service (1,000 or more hours of service during the plan year). In order to share in the Company's contribution to the Plan for any year, a participant must: 1. Have worked 1,000 or more hours during the year. 2. Be employed by the Company on the last business day of the year. However, 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 Company's contribution. (C) CONTRIBUTIONS Each year, employees who participate in the Plan may contribute up to 15% of their salary (6% as a basic elective deferral and 9% as a supplementary elective deferral), on a pretax basis, and up to an additional 10% of their salary on an after-tax basis. The Company matches pre-tax contributions equal to 50% of a participant's basic elective deferral. The Company may also make discretionary profit sharing contributions. No such discretionary contributions were made in 2001. (D) BENEFITS AND VESTING Participants are immediately 100% vested in all contributions plus actual earnings thereon upon eligibility. 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. The form of payment is a lump-sum distribution (rollover treatment, if eligible), a stream of payments to be paid in monthly installments over a 10- to 15-year period, or installment payments in a fixed amount. (Continued) 4 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 (E) PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNTS Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution and allocations of (i) the Company's contribution and (ii) Plan earnings. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account. (F) INVESTMENT OPTIONS Participants are offered 12 investment portfolios into which they can direct their contributions. Employer matching contributions are allocated among options in the same percentages as the employee contributions. A description of each investment option is provided below: SCUDDER STABLE VALUE FUND This fund seeks to provide principal stability, a competitive yield and reliable liquidity from a portfolio of high-quality instruments, including guaranteed insurance contracts (GICs), bank investment contracts (BICs), synthetic contracts, private placements, and cash equivalents. SCUDDER STOCK INDEX FUND This fund seeks to match the total return of the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Stock Index. The S&P 500 is an index of 500 common stocks of U.S. companies that is often used as a benchmark for the U.S. stock market. PERSONAL ACCESS FUND This is an investment option that provides investment flexibility to participants by enabling them to set up their own brokerage account through State Street Brokerage. It allows participants to buy and sell other securities and/or mutual funds not available through the Plan. The participant pays all brokerage fees. SCUDDER INCOME FUND This mutual fund seeks high current income by investing primarily in high-grade corporate bonds. SCUDDER BALANCED FUND This mutual fund seeks a balance of growth and current income as well as long-term preservation of capital through a diversified portfolio of stocks of larger, seasoned companies. SCUDDER LARGE COMPANY GROWTH FUND This mutual fund seeks to provide long-term growth of capital through investing primarily in the equity securities of seasoned, financially strong U.S. companies. (Continued) 5 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 SCUDDER LARGE COMPANY VALUE FUND This mutual fund seeks to maximize long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in common stocks. JANUS MERCURY FUND This mutual fund seeks long-term growth of capital primarily through investments in the common stock of issuers of any size, which may include well established issuers and/or smaller emerging-growth companies. JANUS OVERSEAS FUND This mutual fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in the common stocks of companies outside the United States of America. JANUS TWENTY FUND This mutual fund seeks long-term growth of capital, primarily through investments in a core position of 20-30 common stocks of U.S. and foreign issuers of any size. SCUDDER VALUE FUND This mutual fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in common stocks of medium to large U.S. companies that are considered "undervalued." INDEPENDENT BANK CORP. STOCK This investment is exclusively in the common stock of Independent Bank Corp., the parent company of Rockland Trust Company. (G) 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) or 50% of the participants' account balances, whichever is less. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at rates that range from 4.75% to 9.00%, 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 must be repaid within 30 years. (H) PRIORITIES OF THE PLAN UPON 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, the trustee shall liquidate the entire investment in the Plan after payment of all expenses and after proportional adjustment of accounts to reflect such expenses, portfolio losses or profits, and reallocations to the date of liquidation. Each participating employee, (Continued) 6 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 retired participating employee, and beneficiary of each deceased participating employee shall be entitled to receive any amounts outstanding to the credit of the participating employee's account as of the date of liquidation. (2) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (A) BASIS OF ACCOUNTING The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Contributions, interest, and other income are recorded as earned on the accrual basis. (B) EXPENSES The Company pays all expenses of the Plan at the option of the Company. (C) USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (D) INVESTMENT VALUATION AND INCOME RECOGNITION The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Quoted market prices are used to value investments. Shares of mutual funds are valued at the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend rate. The variety of investment options are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate risk, 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. (E) NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" (SFAS No. 133). SFAS No. 133 requires that an entity recognize all derivatives and measure those instruments at fair value. SFAS No. 133 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. Pursuant to SFAS No. 137, the Plan is required to adopt SFAS No. 133 effective January 1, 2001. The impact of SFAS No. 133 on the Plan financial statements was not material at January 1, 2001. (Continued) 7 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 2001 and 2000 (3) INVESTMENTS The following 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 plan years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000: DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT FAIR VALUE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- 2001 2000 -------------------- -------------------- Independent Bank Corp. Stock, 265,590 and 277,469 $ 5,707,525 3,416,018 shares, respectively Scudder Balanced Fund, 240,268 and 231,836 4,199,888 4,462,853 shares, respectively Scudder Stock Index Fund, 91,356 and 84,408 2,988,248 3,141,655 shares, respectively Scudder Large Company Growth Fund, 93,378 and 85,053 2,391,409 2,816,116 shares, respectively Scudder Stable Value Fund, 1,966,845 and 1,227,399 1,966,845 1,227,399 shares, respectively Janus Mercury Fund, 88,414 and 80,091 shares, respectively 1,838,131 2,376,312 During 2001, the Plan's investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) depreciated in value by $211,942 as follows: Collective investment trusts $ (389,423) Mutual funds - Bonds (3,163) Mutual funds - Equity (2,300,445) Common stock 2,481,089 ------------------- Total depreciation, net $ (211,942) =================== (4) RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS Certain Plan investments are shares of common stock of Independent Bank Corp. and collective investment trusts and mutual funds managed by Scudder Investments. Independent Bank Corp. is the parent company of the Company, and Scudder Investments is the trustee as defined by the Plan. Therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. (5) TAX STATUS The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated March 15, 1995 that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the IRC. Although the Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. (Continued) 8 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) Plan No: 002 E.I.N: 04-1782600 December 31, 2001 ISSUER AND DESCRIPTION SHARES/UNITS CURRENT VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Collective Investment Trusts: * Scudder Stable Value Fund 1,966,845 $ 1,966,845 * Scudder Stock Index Fund 91,356 2,988,248 ------------------- 4,955,093 Personal Access Fund: Cash and cash equivalents: SSGA Money Market Fund, 6.28% 34,346 34,346 Common stock: AOL Time Warner 100 3,210 Allstate Corp 100 3,370 Applied Materials Inc 60 2,406 Bristol Meyers Squibb 50 2,550 Broadvision Inc 50 137 CVS Corp Del 120 3,552 Disney Walt Co Del 30 621 Dominion Resources Inc 50 3,005 Exodus Communications Inc 50 -- Fleetboston Finl Corp 75 2,737 Ford Mtr Co Del Com 150 2,358 Fortune Brands Inc 70 2,771 Home Depot Inc 5 255 Kimberly Clark Corp 50 2,990 Kroger Corp 200 4,174 McDonalds Corp 100 2,647 Merck & Co Inc 50 2,940 Microsoft Corp 10 663 Mirant Corp 100 1,602 Pfizer Inc 50 1,993 Phillips Petroleum Corp 50 3,013 SBC Communications 70 2,742 State Street Corp 10 523 9 THE ROCKLAND TRUST COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAVINGS AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN AND TRUST Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) Plan No: 002 E.I.N: 04-1782600 December 31, 2001 ISSUER AND DESCRIPTION SHARES/UNITS CURRENT VALUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- Sun Microsystems Inc 2,000 24,601 Texas Instruments Inc 5 140 Verizon Communications 10 475 Wal Mart Stores Inc 25 1,439 Worldcom Inc 180 2,286 Zimmer Hldgs Inc 5 149 Check Point Software Tech Ltd 15 598 Mutual funds: Berger Mid Cap Value 937 15,900 Gabelli Growth Shares Ben Int 22 624 Janus Orion Fund 35 208 ------------------- 131,025 Common stocks: Independent Bank Corp. Stock Fund: * Independent Bank Corp. Mass. 265,590 5,707,525 Mutual funds - Bonds: * Scudder Income Fund 30,470 381,486 Mutual funds - Equity: * Scudder Balanced Fund 240,268 $ 4,199,888 * Scudder Large Company Growth Fund 93,378 2,391,409 * Scudder Large Company Value Fund 8,728 195,340 Janus Mercury Fund 88,414 1,838,131 Janus Overseas Fund 36,961 750,300 Janus Twenty Fund 15,391 591,954 ------------------- 9,967,022 *Participants loans, interest rates from 4.75% to 9.00% 0 601,552 ------------------- Total investments held at December 31, 2001 $ 21,743,703 =================== * Represents a party-in-interest to the Plan. See accompanying independent auditors' report. 10