1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM 10-K (MARK ONE) [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) COMMISSION FILE #0-9623 UST CORP. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Massachusetts 04-2436093 (State or other (I.R.S. jurisdiction Employer of incorporation or Identification organization) No.) 40 Court Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 (Address of principal (Zip Code) executive offices) (617) 726-7000 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: NONE Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.625 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 /X/ No / / Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by Reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. /X/ The number of shares of common stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant as of March 2, 1998 was 25,328,467 for an aggregate market value of $687,034,667. At March 2, 1998, there were issued and outstanding 29,812,477 shares of common stock, par value $0.625 per share. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Portions of the registrant's proxy statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting are incorporated by reference in Items 10, 11, 12 and 13 of Part III. 2 PART I ITEM 1. Business General Description of Business UST Corp. (the "Company"), a bank holding company registered with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board"), was organized as a Massachusetts business corporation in 1967. The Company is also subject to examination by, and is required to file reports with, the Commissioner of Banks of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Massachusetts Commissioner"). As of December 31, 1997, the Company's banking subsidiaries were USTrust and United States Trust Company ("USTC"), each headquartered in Boston and chartered under Massachusetts law. USTrust and USTC are sometimes hereafter collectively referred to as the "Subsidiary Banks". All of the capital stock of the Subsidiary Banks is owned directly or indirectly by the Company. In addition, the Company owns, indirectly through its Subsidiary Banks, all of the outstanding stock of five active nonbanking subsidiaries: Firestone Financial Corp. (and its Canadian subsidiary, Firestone Financial Canada Ltd.), UST Leasing Corporation, UST Capital Corp., UST Realty Trust, Inc. and UST Auto Lease Corp., as well as eight subsidiaries which hold foreclosed real estate and four subsidiaries which are passive holders of securities. All of the subsidiaries, except Firestone Financial Canada Ltd. (which was organized under the laws of the Canadian province of Ontario) were organized under Massachusetts law. The Company engages in one line of business, that of providing financial services through its banking and nonbanking subsidiaries. A broad range of financial services is provided principally to individuals and small- and medium-sized companies in New England including those located in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods within the Company's defined Community Reinvestment Act assessment area. In addition, an important component of the Company's financial services is the provision of trust and money management services to professionals, corporate executives, nonprofit organizations, labor unions, foundations, mutual funds and owners of closely-held businesses, most of which are located in the New England region. As of the close of business on December 31, 1997, the Company's total assets were approximately $3.84 billion and USTrust, the lead bank, had over $3.8 billion, or 99 percent of the Company's consolidated assets. The Subsidiary Banks The Subsidiary Banks are engaged in a general banking business and accept deposits which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). USTrust provides a full range of commercial and consumer financial services. USTC, which has full banking powers and accepts deposits which are insured by the FDIC, focuses its activity on trust and money management, venture capital and other fee-generating businesses. 3 3 Recent Developments Acquisition of Firestone Financial Corp. On October 15, 1997, the Company consummated its acquisition of Firestone Financial Corp. ("Firestone"), an $85 million small business equipment finance company headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts. The transaction was accounted for as a pooling of interests and was structured as a tax-free exchange of 1,180,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock for the 2,000,000 closely held shares of Firestone common stock. Firestone has one subsidiary, Firestone Financial Canada Ltd., a Canadian entity which offers similar business equipment finance services to small business entities in Canada. Pending Acquisition of Somerset Savings Bank On December 9, 1997, the Company executed an Affiliation Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Somerset Agreement") with Somerset Savings Bank of Somerville, Massachusetts ("Somerset"), pursuant to which Somerset will be merged with and into USTrust. Somerset, a Massachusetts savings bank which at December 31, 1997 had consolidated assets of $540 million, serves the consumer and small business banking needs of its customers through its five branch offices located in the communities of Somerville and Burlington. The Somerset transaction, which is structured to qualify as a pooling of interests for accounting purposes, is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Somerset as well as to the receipt of federal and state regulatory banking approvals. Subject to the foregoing conditions, the Somerset transaction is expected to close during the second or third quarter of 1998. The Somerset transaction is structured as a tax-free exchange of 0.19 shares of UST Corp. Common Stock for each share of Somerset common stock outstanding. At the Company's closing stock price of $29.625 on December 9, 1997, the Somerset transaction would be valued at approximately $94 million, and Somerset shareholders would receive a value of $5.63 in the Company's Common Stock for each share of Somerset common stock. The purchase price represents a multiple of 2.3 times stated book value of Somerset at September 30, 1997. The Company expects to record a one-time, pre-tax charge of approximately $7.5 million in acquisition-related costs in connection with the Somerset transaction. Immediately after execution of the Somerset Agreement on December 9, 1997, the Company entered into a Stock Option Agreement with Somerset pursuant to which Somerset granted the Company the option to purchase, under certain circumstances, up to 2,777,000 shares (or approximately 16.7%) of its outstanding stock for $4.875 per share and has also agreed to pay the Company certain additional consideration related to the option. Following the consummation of the Somerset transaction, Mr. James F. Drew, a current director of Somerset, will become a director of the Company and Mr. Nicholas P. Salerno, a current director of Somerset, will become a director of USTrust. Additionally, pursuant to the terms of an Employment Agreement dated as of December 9, 1997, Mr. Thomas J. Kelly, currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Somerset, will become an Executive Vice President of USTrust. Pending Acquisition of Affiliated Community Bancorp., Inc. On December 15, 1997, the Company executed an Affiliation Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Affiliated Agreement") with Affiliated Community Bancorp., Inc. of Waltham, Massachusetts ("Affiliated"), pursuant to which the Company will acquire Affiliated. Affiliated is a $1.2 billion Massachusetts bank holding company for three community banks, Lexington Savings Bank, The Federal Savings Bank and Middlesex Bank & Trust Company ("Middlesex") (together, the "Affiliated Banks") which serve consumer and small business banking needs through 13 branch offices located in eastern Middlesex County. In the Affiliated Agreement, the Company has permitted Affiliated to sell all of the shares of capital stock of Middlesex for not less than 4 4 $8,000,000 prior to the effective date of the Affiliated transaction, which sale, if consummated, would not have a material effect on Affiliated. At December 31, 1997, Middlesex has assets of approximately $18.9 million and a net worth of approximately $7.7 million. The Affiliated transaction, which is structured to qualify as a pooling of interests for accounting purposes, is subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company and Affiliated as well as to the receipt of federal and state regulatory banking approvals and is expected to close during the second or third quarter of 1998. While the Company will first acquire Affiliated, thereby making the Affiliated Banks subsidiaries of the Company, the Company anticipates merging the Affiliated Banks into USTrust in 1998. The Affiliated transaction is structured as a tax-free exchange of 1.41 shares of UST Corp. Common Stock for each share of Affiliated common stock outstanding. At the Company's closing stock price of $28.3125 on December 12, 1997, the Affiliated transaction would be valued at approximately $259 million, and Affiliated shareholders would receive a value of $39.92 in UST Corp. Common Stock for each share of Affiliated common stock. The Company expects to record a one-time, pre-tax charge of approximately $12 million in acquisition-related costs in connection with the Affiliated transaction. If the Company's average stock price during a specified period prior to closing is less than $24.06 per share and the Company's stock price has declined by more than 15% relative to a certain bank stock index, Affiliated can terminate the agreement, subject to the right of the Company to issue additional shares to ensure a per share value of $33.92 in stock of the Company. Immediately after execution of the Affiliated Agreement on December 15, 1997, the Company entered into a Stock Option Agreement with Affiliated pursuant to which Affiliated granted to the Company the option to purchase, under certain circumstances, up to 1,300,078 shares (or approximately 19.9%) of its outstanding stock for $32.937 per share. Following consummation of the Affiliated transaction, Mr. Neal F. Finnegan, currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and USTrust, will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of USTrust, and Mr. Timothy J. Hansberry, currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Affiliated, will serve as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and President and Chief Operating Officer of USTrust. Additionally, five of the current directors of Affiliated, including Mr. Hansberry (or such lesser number as may be agreed to by the Company and Affiliated, and as will represent approximately 20% of the then existing Board of Directors of the Company) will become directors of the Company Business Services The Subsidiary Banks provide a broad range of banking services including deposit, investment, cash management, payroll, wire transfer, leasing, merchant credit card and lending services throughout New England. Commercial and industrial lending takes the form primarily of direct loans and includes lines of credit, revolving credits, domestic and foreign letters of credit, term loans, mortgage loans, receivable, inventory and equipment loans and other specialized lending services. Furthermore, the Company provides additional services to small business customers through utilization of government sponsored and assisted loan programs. USTrust is certified by the SBA as a "Small Business Administration Lender." USTC provides deposit services and other banking services, but focuses its activities on money management, venture capital and other fee-generating services. Through Firestone, the Company provides small business equipment finance services. The Company intends to begin providing a broader range of cash management services to a larger number of municipalities during 1998. At December 31, 1997, the combined lending limit to a single borrower of USTrust was approximately $47 million. Consumer Services Consumer services are provided by the Subsidiary Banks to customers in their geographic areas. These services include savings and checking accounts, NOW and money market accounts, consumer loans, credit cards (through a private label arrangement), ATM and debit cards, safe deposit box facilities, travelers' checks and foreign exchange into several major foreign currencies. Consumer loans include home equity loans 5 5 and lines of credit, automobile loans, personal loans and loans to finance education costs as well as open-ended credit. The Company expects to reenter the residential mortgage origination business in 1998. USTrust also maintains a residential mortgage servicing capacity for its own portfolio and for third parties. As of December 31, 1997, the aggregate principal amount of residential mortgages serviced by the Company for its own account was approximately $698 million. In 1997 the Company began offering automobile leasing services to customers through UST Auto Lease Corp. Automobile loan and lease volume increased substantially in 1997 and reached a level of approximately $637 million as of December 31, 1997. The Company's Subsidiary Banks currently have an aggregate of 66 offices which maintain an automated teller machine system which, through membership in various networks, provides the Company's customers with access to their accounts at locations throughout the world. Most of the Company's proprietary ATM machines provide information to customers in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and also provide information adapted for the visually impaired. Investment Services The Investment Group located at USTrust was formed in 1994. The Investment Group, a service of Essex National Securities, Inc. and Essex Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc., an unaffiliated, licensed broker-dealer, offers mutual funds (whose investments are managed by nonaffiliated third parties), Treasury Bills, Treasury Notes, corporate bonds, state, federal and municipal bonds and discount brokerage services to the customers of USTrust. The Essex Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc. also offers annuities to USTrust customers at branch locations. Real Estate Services The Subsidiary Banks provide a broad range of industrial and commercial real estate lending services and other related financial services. In 1998, the Company intends to begin providing small real estate construction loans to developers of projects in the cities and towns served by USTrust's branch system. In addition, as noted above under the caption, "Consumer Services," USTrust is engaged in residential mortgage servicing and intends to reenter the residential mortgage origination business in 1998. Asset and Money Management and Trust Services Asset and money management, custodial and trust services are provided by USTC. In addition, USTC provides services as executor, administrator and trustee of estates and acts, under the terms of agreements, in various capacities such as escrow agent, bond trustee and trustee and agent of pension, profit sharing and other employee benefit trusts. At December 31, 1997, the total assets under management of USTC were approximately $3.1 billion. Approximately one quarter of total assets under management are those of clients who have requested that their assets be managed with specified social as well as financial investment objectives in mind. USTC also serves as investment adviser to a balanced mutual fund, the Boston Balanced Fund. Securities Portfolios Maintained by the Company The Subsidiary Banks, both directly and through wholly-owned Massachusetts securities corporations, maintain securities portfolios consisting primarily of U.S. Treasury, U.S. Government Agency, and corporate and municipal securities. The Subsidiary Banks own an aggregate of four Massachusetts securities corporations. As Massachusetts securities corporations, these subsidiaries make exclusively passive investments and serve by buying, selling, dealing in and holding securities. All of the Company's securities are deemed "available-for-sale" which enhances the liquidity position of the Company and allows for flexibility in management of interest rate risk. The securities portfolios of the Subsidiary Banks also include certain other equity investments as allowed within limits prescribed by Massachusetts and federal law. Such investments currently include, among others, equity interests in the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation's Limited Partnership Equity Fund for Affordable Housing. The Treasury Division of the Company provides securities portfolio advisory services to the Company's Subsidiary Banks. USTrust is also a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. This membership 6 6 provides USTrust with access to an additional source of funds. In February 1998, USTrust also established UST Realty Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust. Principal Nonbanking Subsidiaries Firestone Financial Corp., organized in 1965 and acquired as a subsidiary of USTrust in 1997, provides small business equipment financing services to companies headquartered throughout the United States. Firestone's principal market consists of small businesses that maintain various types of coin-operated amusement equipment and vending machines, as well as owners/operators of dry-cleaning stores and coin operated laundry equipment. Firestone also provides similar services to Canadian companies through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Firestone Financial Canada Ltd., a Canadian entity. As of December 31, 1997, Firestone's total assets were approximately $86 million. UST Leasing Corporation, a subsidiary of USTrust organized in 1987, provides a broad range of equipment leasing services to corporations headquartered throughout the United States. UST Leasing Corporation offers a line of leasing products designed to meet the needs of the Company's small business customers and other business entities with similar needs. As of December 31, 1997, UST Leasing Corporation's total assets were approximately $63 million. UST Auto Lease Corp., a subsidiary of USTrust organized in 1997, provides automobile leasing services to consumers and corporations headquartered throughout New England. As of December 31, 1997, UST Auto Lease Corp.'s total assets were approximately $27 million. UST Realty Trust, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of USTrust, was organized in February of 1998. It functions as a real estate investment trust which holds, and may from time to time originate, real estate loans and participations in such loans. UST Capital Corp., organized in 1961 and acquired by the Company in 1969, is a subsidiary of USTC and is a licensed Small Business Investment Company. It specializes in equity and long-term debt financing for growth-oriented companies. Competitive Conditions The Company's banking and nonbanking subsidiaries face substantial competition throughout Massachusetts. This competition is provided by commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, consumer finance companies, insurance companies, mutual funds, government agencies, investment management companies, investment advisors, brokers and investment bankers. Most of these entities are actively engaged in marketing various types of loans, deposits, investment products and other financial services. Quality of service to customers, price of products, breadth of its range of products and services and ease of accessibility to facilities are among the principal methods of meeting competition in the banking and financial services industries. Supervision and Regulation of the Company and its Subsidiaries General As a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"), the Company is subject to substantial regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve Board. As state-chartered banks, the Subsidiary Banks are subject to substantial regulation and supervision by the FDIC and the applicable state bank regulatory agencies. Such activities are often intended primarily for the protection of depositors or are aimed at carrying out broad public policy goals that may not be directly related to the financial services provided by the Company and its subsidiaries. Supervision, regulation and examination of the Subsidiary Banks by the bank regulatory agencies is not intended for the protection of the Company's security holders. Federal and state banking and other laws impose a number of requirements and restrictions on the business operations, investments and other activities of depository institutions and their affiliates. 7 7 General Supervision and Regulation The Company, as a bank holding company under the BHC Act, is registered with the Federal Reserve Board and is regulated under the provisions of the BHC Act. Under the BHC Act the Company is prohibited, with certain exceptions, from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5 percent of the voting shares of any company which is not a bank and from engaging in any business other than that of banking, managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to, or acquiring premises for, its Subsidiary Banks, except that the Company may engage in and own voting shares of companies engaging in certain activities determined by the Federal Reserve Board, by order or by regulation, to be so closely related to banking or to managing or controlling banks "as to be a proper incident thereto." The Company is required by the BHC Act to file with the Federal Reserve Board an annual report and such additional reports and notices as the Federal Reserve Board may require. The Federal Reserve Board also makes periodic inspections of the Company and its subsidiaries. The BHC Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board before it may acquire substantially all of the assets of any bank, or ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank, if, after such acquisition, it would own or control, directly or indirectly, more than 5 percent of the voting shares of such bank. Because the Company is also a bank holding company under the Massachusetts General Laws, the Massachusetts Commissioner has authority to require certain reports from the Company from time to time and to examine the Company and each of its subsidiaries. The Massachusetts Commissioner also has enforcement powers designed to prevent banks from engaging in unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices involving consumer transactions. Prior approval of the Massachusetts Board of Bank Incorporation is also required before the Company may acquire any additional banks located in Massachusetts or in other jurisdictions. The location of nonbank subsidiaries of the Company is not restricted geographically under the BHC Act. The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Act of 1994 (the "Riegle-Neal Act"), enacted in 1995, permits adequately capitalized and managed bank holding companies to acquire control of banks in any state. Additionally, as of June 1, 1997, the Riegle-Neal Act allows for banks to branch across state lines, but individual states were given the right, prior to June 1, 1997, to elect to "opt out" of interstate banking entirely. In 1996, Massachusetts adopted legislation (the "Massachusetts Interstate Act") pursuant to which Massachusetts "opted in" to interstate banking. The Massachusetts Interstate Act also allows Massachusetts banks to establish and maintain branches through a merger or consolidation with or by the purchase of the whole or any part of the assets or stock of any out-of-state bank or through de novo branch establishment in any state other than Massachusetts. The Subsidiary Banks, whose deposits are insured by the FDIC, and the subsidiaries of such banks are subject to a number of regulatory restrictions, including certain restrictions upon: (i) extensions of credit to the Company and the Company's nonbanking affiliates (collectively with the Company, the "Affiliates"); (ii) the purchase of assets from Affiliates; (iii) the issuance of a guarantee or acceptance of a letter of credit on behalf of Affiliates; and (iv) investments in stock or other securities issued by Affiliates or acceptance thereof as collateral for an extension of credit. In addition, all transactions among the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries must be made on an arm's length basis and valued on fair market terms. The Subsidiary Banks pay deposit insurance premiums to the FDIC. Federal Reserve Board policy requires bank holding companies to serve as a source of strength to their subsidiary banks by standing ready to use available resources to provide adequate capital funds to subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity. A bank holding company also can be liable under certain provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 ("FDICIA") for the capital deficiencies of an undercapitalized bank subsidiary. In the event of a bank holding company's bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the trustee will be deemed to have assumed and is required to cure immediately any deficit under any commitment by the debtor to any of the federal banking agencies to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution, and any claim for breach of such obligation will generally have 8 8 priority over most other unsecured claims. Under the cross-guarantee provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, if any or all of the Subsidiary Banks were placed in conservatorship or receivership, the Company, as sole stockholder, would likely lose its investment in the applicable Subsidiary Bank or Subsidiary Banks, and, in addition, its investment in its other Subsidiary Bank or Subsidiary Banks would be at risk. In addition, under both Section 106 of the 1970 Amendments to the BHC Act and regulations which have been issued by the Federal Reserve Board, the Company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with any extension of credit, lease or sale of any property or the furnishing of any service. Various consumer laws and regulations also affect the operations of the Subsidiary Banks. The Subsidiary Banks, which are chartered under Massachusetts law, are subject to federal requirements to maintain cash reserves against deposits, and to state mandated restrictions upon the nature and amount of loans which may be made by the banks (including restrictions upon loans to "insiders" of the Company and its Subsidiary Banks) as well as to restrictions relating to dividends, investments, branching and other bank activities. FDICIA prescribes the supervisory and regulatory actions that will be taken against undercapitalized insured depository institutions for the purposes of promptly resolving problems at such institutions at the least possible long-term loss to the FDIC. Five categories of depository institutions have been established by FDICIA in accordance with their capital levels: "well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized," and "critically undercapitalized." The federal banking agencies have adopted uniform regulations to implement the prompt regulatory action provisions of FDICIA. FDICIA requires the appropriate regulatory agencies to take specific actions against significantly undercapitalized institutions and undercapitalized institutions that fail to submit acceptable capital restoration plans. An undercapitalized institution is required to submit a capital restoration plan for acceptance by the appropriate federal banking agency and will be subject to close monitoring of both its condition and compliance with, and progress made pursuant to, its capital restoration plan. An institution that fails to submit an acceptable plan may be placed into conservatorship or receivership unless its capital restoration plan is accepted. An undercapitalized institution will also be subject to restrictions on asset growth, acquisitions, branching, new activities, capital distributions and the payment of management fees. As of December 31, 1997, USTrust was "adequately capitalized" and USTC was "well capitalized". (For further information regarding capitalization, please refer to Note 15 to Consolidated Financial Statements of this Form 10-K). An insured institution that receives a less-than-satisfactory rating for asset quality, management, earnings, liquidity or sensitivity to market risk may be deemed by its appropriate federal banking regulator to be engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice for purposes of issuing an order to cease and desist or to take certain affirmative actions. If the unsafe or unsound practice is likely to weaken the institution, cause insolvency or substantial dissipation of assets or earnings or otherwise seriously prejudice the interest of depositors or the FDIC, a receiver or conservator could be appointed. Finally, subject to certain exceptions, FDICIA requires critically undercapitalized institutions to be placed into receivership or conservatorship within 90 days after becoming critically undercapitalized. The status of the Company as a registered bank holding company does not exempt it from certain federal and state laws and regulations applicable to corporations generally, including, without limitation, certain provisions of the federal securities laws and the Massachusetts corporate laws. Federal bank regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC, have broad enforcement powers to restrict the activities of financial institutions and to impose or seek the imposition of civil and/or criminal penalties upon financial institutions, the individuals who manage or control such institutions and "institution affiliated parties" of such entities. Pursuant to the Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA") and similar provisions of Massachusetts law, regulatory authorities review the performance of the Company and its Subsidiary Banks in meeting the credit needs of the communities served by the Subsidiary Banks. The applicable regulatory authorities consider compliance with this law in connection with applications for, among other things, approval of branches, branch 9 9 relocations and acquisitions of banks and bank holding companies. Currently the FDIC's CRA rating of USTrust is "outstanding"; FDIC does not rate USTC which it regards as a "special purpose" bank. The Massachusetts Commissioner currently has given each of USTrust and USTC a CRA rating of "satisfactory." From time to time various proposals are made in the United States Congress, as well as state legislatures, which would alter the powers of, and place restrictions on, different types of bank organizations as well as bank and nonbank activities. Such legislative proposals include proposals related to expansion of bank powers and increased consumer compliance disclosure requirements. From time to time, federal legislation is proposed which, if adopted, would grant bank holding companies broader powers with respect to insurance and securities activities. Under proposed federal legislation, broader cross-ownership would be authorized among banking, insurance and securities companies. At this time it seems unlikely that such legislation (in any form) will be adopted in the near term. In 1997 and early 1998, the federal banking regulatory agencies jointly issued guidance to the banking industry with respect to appropriate measures which financial institutions should take to address risks associated with the so-called "Year 2000" issue. In 1998, the agencies are performing on-site visitations to determine each financial institution's Year 2000 readiness. Failure to address any Year 2000 risks and concerns raised by the federal bank regulatory agencies as a result of their visitation could have material adverse consequences to the Company. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Year 2000" for a further discussion of these matters. Governmental Policies, Economic Conditions and Credit Risk Concentration The earnings and business of the Company's subsidiaries are and will be affected by a number of external influences, including general economic conditions in the United States and particularly in New England and the policies of various regulatory authorities of the United States, including the Federal Reserve Board. The Federal Reserve Board regulates the supply of money and of bank credit to influence general economic conditions within the United States and throughout the world. From time to time, the Federal Reserve Board takes specific steps to dampen domestic inflation and to control the country's money supply. The instruments of monetary policy employed by the Federal Reserve Board for these purposes (including the level of cash reserves banks, including nonmember banks such as the Company's Subsidiary Banks, are required to maintain against deposits) influence in various ways the interest rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities and the interest received on earning assets, and the overall level of bank loans, investments and deposits. During 1997, the Massachusetts economy was extremely robust: employment levels remained high; interest rates were at historically low levels; levels of disposable income were high and capital expenditures were strong. There can be no assurance that these strong local economic conditions will continue. In addition, the impact upon the future business and earnings of the Company of prospective economic conditions throughout the United States, and of the policies of the Federal Reserve Board as well as other federal regulatory authorities, cannot be predicted accurately. Most of the Company's loans outstanding are from borrowers located in Community Reinvestment Act delineated communities in Massachusetts and a substantial portion of these loans are various types of real estate loans; still others have real estate as additional collateral. At year-end 1997, the Company's exposure to credit risk from borrowers who had real estate as their primary collateral support included $1.1 billion of loans. The Base Lending Rate used by the Company's Subsidiary Banks and the costs they paid for major sources of funds remained relatively stable in 1996 and 1997. General No significant portion of the loans or deposits of any of the Company's banking subsidiaries results from one or several accounts, the loss of which would materially affect its business. The Company does not experience significant seasonal fluctuations in its business. 10 10 Employees As of December 31, 1997, the Company and its subsidiaries had approximately 1,550 full-time and part-time employees. The Company regards its relations with its employees as good. 11 11 (e) Financial Statement Schedules included in Financial Statements. Signatures Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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. UST Corp. By /s/ NEAL F. FINNEGAN By /s/ JAMES K. HUNT Neal F. Finnegan James K. Hunt President and Chief Executive Officer Executive Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Executive Officer) (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Date: March 17, 1998 Accounting Officer) Date: March 17, 1998 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. By /s/ CHESTER G. ATKINS By /s/ MICHAEL A. MILLER Chester G. Atkins, Director Michael A. Miller, Director Date: March 17, 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ DAVID E. BRADBURY By /s/ SYDNEY L. MILLER David E. Bradbury, Director Sydney L. Miller, Director Date: March 17, 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ ROBERT M. COARD By Robert M. Coard, Director Vikki L. Pryor, Director Date: March 17, 1998 Date: March , 1998 By /s/ ROBERT L. CULVER By /s/ GERALD M. RIDGE Robert L. Culver, Director Gerald M. Ridge, Director Date: March 17, 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ ALAN K. DERKAZARIAN By /s/ WILLIAM SCHWARTZ Alan K. Derkazarian, Director William Schwartz, Director Date: March 17, 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 By By /s/ BARBARA C. SIDELL Donald C. Dolben, Director Barbara C. Sidell, Director Date: March , 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ NEAL F. FINNEGAN By /s/ JAMES V. SIDELL Neal F. Finnegan, Director James V. Sidell, Director President and Chief Executive Date: March 17, 1998 Officer Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ EDWARD GUZOVSKY By /s/ PAUL D. SLATER Edward Guzovsky, Director Paul D. Slater, Director Date: March 17, 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ EDWARD J. SULLIVAN Edward J. Sullivan, Director Date: March 17, 1998 74 12 By By /s/ G. ROBERT TOD Wallace M. Haselton, Director G. Robert Tod, Director Date: March , 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ BRIAN W. HOTAREK By /s/ MICHAEL J. VERROCHI Brian W. Hotarek, Director Michael J. Verrochi, Director Date: March 17, 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 By /s/ FRANCIS X. MESSINA By /s/ GORDON M. WEINER Francis X. Messina, Director Gordon M. Weiner, Director Date: March 17, 1998 Date: March 17, 1998 75