FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 425
Filed by The Toronto-Dominion Bank
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
Commission File No.: 1-12069
This filing, which includes an email sent to TD Bank Financial Group employees on November 8,
2007, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and comparable safe harbour provisions of applicable Canadian legislation,
including, but not limited to, statements relating to anticipated financial and operating results,
the companies plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, cost savings and other statements,
including words such as anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect, intend, will,
should, may, and other similar expressions. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs
and expectations of our management and involve a number of significant risks and uncertainties.
Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking
statements. The following factors, among others, could cause or contribute to such material
differences: the ability to obtain the approval of the transaction by Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
stockholders; the ability to realize the expected synergies resulting for the transaction in the
amounts or in the timeframe anticipated; the ability to integrate Commerce Bancorp, Inc.s
businesses into those of TD Bank Financial Group in a timely and cost-efficient manner; and the
ability to obtain governmental approvals of the transaction or to satisfy other conditions to the
transaction on the proposed terms and timeframe. Additional factors that could cause TD Bank
Financial Groups and Commerce Bancorp, Inc.s results to differ materially from those described in
the forward-looking statements can be found in the 2006 Annual Report on Form 40-F for The
Toronto-Dominion Bank and the 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Commerce Bancorp, Inc. filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at the Securities and Exchange Commissions
Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).
The proposed merger transaction involving The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Commerce Bancorp, Inc.
will be submitted to Commerce Bancorps shareholders for their consideration. Shareholders are
encouraged to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it
becomes available because it will contain important information. Shareholders will be able to
obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing
information about The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Commerce Bancorp, Inc., without charge, at the
SECs Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and the filings
with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the proxy statement/prospectus can also be
obtained, when available, without charge, by directing a request to TD Bank Financial Group, 66
Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON M5K 1A2, Attention: Investor Relations, (416) 308-9030, or to
Commerce Bancorp, Inc., Shareholder Relations, 1701 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-5400,
(856) 751-9000.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank, Commerce Bancorp, Inc., their respective directors and executive
officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in
respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding The Toronto-Dominion Banks directors
and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended October
31, 2006, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 2006, and its
notice of annual meeting and proxy circular for its most recent annual meeting, which was filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2007. Information regarding Commerce
Bancorp, Inc.s directors and executive officers is available in Commerce Bancorp, Inc.s proxy
statement for its most recent annual meeting, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 13, 2007. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy
solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or
otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be
filed with the SEC when they become available.
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EMAIL SENT TO TD BANK FINANCIAL GROUP EMPLOYEES ON NOVEMBER 8, 2007 |
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TO: |
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TDBFG AVPs and Above
TD Banknorth Management Group |
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FROM: |
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Bharat Masrani
President and CEO, TD Banknorth |
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CC: |
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T. Currie
D. DiFlorio
B. Falese
C. Montague |
Please share with your teams
SUBJECT: Integration update: Making it Happen!
I wanted to update you on some organizational realignment at TD Banknorth as we continue to plan
for the transformational integration of Commerce and TD Banknorth, to create a leading, integrated
North American financial institution centered on the customer.
We know that Commerce is a perfect fit with its unique Wow! factor and its superior customer
experience. We know that TD Banknorth has an exceptional history in mergers, asset gathering
skills and focus on profitability. And, more importantly, we know that both organizations share a
passion for the customer.
To leverage the best of both organizations and ensure alignment with TD Bank Financial Group
(TDBFG), we have a clear set of integration principles that will be supported with a robust focus
on communications:
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Protect and enhance the customer experience and expand our customer base |
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Establish common leadership values and create a common culture built around the customer |
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Treat employees fairly and with respect throughout the process |
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Communicate major decisions to employees as soon as we can |
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Leverage the best and the most cost-effective applications and processes to meet the
needs of the new, stronger, combined entity |
While enhancing the customer experience and living these principles, we must ensure we deliver to
investors the economics anticipated in this transaction including growing revenue, realizing
expected cost synergies and finding ways to improve the profitability of our strategies including
better cross-selling of wealth management and personal lending products. But above all, we need to
make sure that all employees understand the enormous potential that we have to create a new,
exciting and transformational customer experience in financial services.
To do that and as Ed previously announced a couple of weeks ago, we have created an Integration
Office (IO) chaired by Carol Mitchell, EVP and Chief Administrative Officer, TD Banknorth. With
this exciting opportunity for Carol, the following changes to her current role are being made
effective immediately:
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John Opperman, EVP and General Counsel will now report jointly to me and Chris Montague,
EVP and General Counsel, TDBFG, creating a truly North American view on all legal matters |
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Beth Warn, EVP Community Development will now report to Ed Schreiber, EVP and Chief Risk
Officer |
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Joe Hanson, EVP Operations, John Petrey, EVP Technology and CIO will continue to report
to Carol. Dan Westfall, SVP, Technology Service Delivery, will continue to have dual
reporting to Carol and Jeff Hendersen, SVP and CTO, Infrastructure, Technology Solutions,
TDBFG. |
As previously announced, John Davies, SVP Corporate Services, TDBFG will be a member of the
Integration Office. In this role, John will report to Carol Mitchell and will be responsible for
the day-to-day integration alignment. Splitting his time between Portland and Commerces head
office in New Jersey, John is a highly
respected leader whose 28 year career with the organization has included senior roles in Investor
Services, Audit, Information Technology as CIO and, most recently, as the SVP of Corporate Services
responsible for Strategic Sourcing, Real Estate, the Implementation Management Office and the
Intranet Business Office. Im extremely pleased to have John playing a key role in the integration
planning.
I am also pleased to announce that Carrie Blair, currently VP, Human Resources, Wealth Management,
TDBFG will become the new head of TD Banknorths Human Resources Group effective November 20th,
2007. Reporting to Carrie will be Cindy Hamilton EVP, Human Resources and her team. Carries
drive to create an exceptional employee experience, focus on supporting business objectives and her
previous HR experience in Wealth Management, Retail Distribution and TD Waterhouse USA as well as
her contribution to the successful TD Canada Trust integration, make her an excellent addition to
my management team. In keeping with our goal to ensure alignment with TDBFG, Carrie will report
jointly to myself and Teri Currie, EVP Human Resources, TDBFG.
I recognize that there is uncertainty ahead, but I know that the thought of building a truly unique
customer experience and the knowledge that each of us can contribute in our own way will help
temper that uncertainty. These are exciting times as we work to build a North American powerhouse
that will deliver a superior experience for our customers, employees and shareholders!
Bharat
Commerces shareholders are encouraged to read the proxy statement/prospectus
regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available because it will contain important information. Shareholders
will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information
about The Toronto-Dominion Bank and Commerce Bancorp, Inc., without charge, at the Securities and Exchange
Commissions (SEC) Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and the filings with the
SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, when
available, without charge, by directing a request to TD Bank Financial Group, 66 Wellington
Street West, Toronto, ON M5K 1A2, Attention: Investor Relations, (416) 308-9030, or to Commerce
Bancorp, Inc., Shareholder Relations, 1701 Route 70 East Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-5400, 1-888-751-9000. Information
regarding participants or persons who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect
of the proposed transaction is contained in Commerces proxy statement for its most recent annual meeting, as
filed with the SEC, and in TD Bank Financial Groups annual report and notice of annual meeting and proxy
circular, as filed with the SEC. This material contains forward-looking statements which involve a number of
significant risks and uncertainties.