Chemical Financial Corporation Form 11-K - 06-03-10


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


_________________

FORM 11-K

FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS
AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

(Mark One):

 
       
 

x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

 
       
 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009

 
       
   

OR

 
       
 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

 
       
 

For the transition period from _____________to _______________

 
       
   

Commission File No. 000-08185

 
       
 

      A.  Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:  Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan.

 
     
 

      B.  Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:  Chemical Financial Corporation, 235 E. Main Street, Midland, Michigan 48640.

 












Chemical Financial Corporation
401(k) Savings Plan

Audited Financial Statements
and Supplemental Schedule

December 31, 2009 and 2008,
and Year ended December 31, 2009



Table of Contents

 

Page

   

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

1

   

Audited Financial Statements

 

     Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits

2

     Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

3

     Notes to Financial Statements

4

   

Supplemental Schedule

 

     Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)

11










Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


The Compensation and Pension Committee
Chemical Financial Corporation
   401(k) Savings Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2009, is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the 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. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.

Saginaw, Michigan
June 3, 2010



1



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits


 

December 31,

 

2009


 

2008


Assets

         

Investments, at fair value:

         

   Chemical Financial Corporation common stock

$

4,636,417

 

$

5,127,467

   Mutual funds

 

30,344,499

   

24,633,924

   Cash and cash equivalents

 

3,005,373

   

-

   Loans to participants

 

737,419


 
 

563,632


Total investments, at fair value

 

38,723,708

   

30,325,023

           

Receivables:

         

   Employer contributions

 

1,705


 
 

-


Net assets available for benefits

$


38,725,413


 

$


30,325,023



See accompanying notes to financial statements.









2



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Year ended December 31, 2009


Additions

     

Investment income:

     

   Chemical Financial Corporation dividends

$

223,451

 

   Mutual fund dividends

 

478,066

 

   Interest income

 

12,383

 

   Loan interest income

 

46,125


 

Total investment income

 

760,025

 
       

Contributions:

     

   Participant

 

2,637,132

 

   Employer

 

2,088,039


 

Total contributions

 

4,725,171


 

Total additions

 

5,485,196

 
       

Deductions

     

Benefits paid directly to participants

 

1,883,299

 

Administrative fees

 

258


 

Total deductions

 

1,883,557

 
       

Net appreciation in fair value of investments (Note 3)

 

4,798,751


 

Net increase

 

8,400,390

 
       

Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year

 

30,325,023


 

Net assets available for benefits at end of year

$


38,725,413


 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.





3



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2009


1.  Description of the Plan

The following description of the Chemical Financial Corporation (Company) 401(k) Savings Plan (Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a complete description of the Plan's provisions.

General

The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering all employees of the Company. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

Contributions

Each year, Plan participants may contribute up to 85% of pretax annual compensation not to exceed the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code) limitation, as defined in the Plan. Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plans. Participants who have attained age 50 before the end of the Plan year are eligible to make catch-up contributions. The Company contributes matching contributions equal to 50% of the participant's contributions. In determining Company matching contributions, participant contributions up to 4% of a participant's eligible compensation are matched.

The Company also contributes 4% of certain employees' eligible compensation. The employees eligible for this additional contribution are those affected by a partial freeze of the Company's defined benefit plan, which was effective June 30, 2006 and any new employees.

Participant Accounts

Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contributions and allocations of (a) the Company's contributions and (b) Plan earnings. Participants direct the investment of their accounts among the investment funds offered by the Plan. Forfeited balances of terminated participants' nonvested accounts are used to reduce future Company contributions. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's account.




4



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


1.  Description of the Plan (continued)

Vesting

Participants are immediately vested in their contributions and actual earnings thereon. Company matching contributions vest in accordance with the following schedule:

 

Years of Service


Percentage


 
   

Less than three

0%

   
   

Three or more

100%

   

Prior to January 1, 2007, Company's 4% contributions vested in accordance with the following schedule:

 

Years of Service


Percentage


 
   

Less than five

0%

   
   

Five or more

100%

   

The Plan was amended effective January 1, 2007 to reflect vesting requirements of the Pension Protection Act (PPA). Participants that were 100% vested for the Company's 4% contribution at December 31, 2006 remained 100% vested. Certain participants who were not 100% vested for the Company's 4% contribution were, in accordance with the PPA, provided the opportunity to select a new vesting schedule, as described below, or continue with the existing schedule, as described above.

All other participants who were not 100% vested for the Company's 4% contribution at December 31, 2006, as well as new participants, are subject to the following six-year graded vesting schedule for the Company's 4% contribution.

 

Years of Service


Percentage


 
   

One or less

0%

   
   

Two

20%

   
   

Three

40%

   
   

Four

60%

   
   

Five

80%

   
   

Six or more

100%

   




5



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


1.  Description of the Plan (continued)

Participant Loans

Participants may borrow from their participant accounts a minimum of $1,000 and up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance. Loan terms range from 1-5 years. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at a rate commensurate with local prevailing market interest rates as determined monthly by the plan administrator. Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions.

Payment of Benefits

On termination of service or upon death, disability or retirement, a participant may request a benefit payment. Benefit payments are distributed in a lump-sum amount equal to the vested value of the participant's account. Payment of benefits may not be deferred by participants beyond their attainment of age 70-1/2, unless they are an active employee.

2.  Summary of Accounting Policies

Investment Valuation

The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Securities traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the Plan year. Mutual funds are stated at the quoted market prices which represent the net asset values of shares held by the Plan at year-end. The participant loans are valued at their outstanding balances, which approximate fair value.

Chemical Financial Corporation common stock had a market value of $23.58 per share as of December 31, 2009 and $27.88 per share as of December 31, 2008.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Plan Termination

Although it has not expressed the intention to do so, the Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan at any time by resolution of its Board of Directors subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, all participants will be 100% vested in their accounts. The value of the participant accounts will be determined as of the effective date of the termination and distributed as provided by the Plan.




6



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


2.  Summary of Accounting Policies (continued)

Administration

Administrative fees of the Plan include certain fees charged directly to individual participants, related directly to transactions or events associated with individual participant accounts. Expenses of administering the Plan are paid directly by the Company outside of the Plan.

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.

3.  Investments

During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Plan's investments (including investments purchased, sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated (depreciated) in fair value as determined by quoted market prices as follows:

 

Net Realized
and Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation) in
Fair Value of
Investments


 
       
 

Chemical Financial Corporation common stock

$

(691,342

)

 

Mutual funds

 

5,490,093


 
 

$


4,798,751


 

The Plan invests in various investment securities as directed by Plan participants. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with investment securities, changes in the values of investment securities could occur and those changes could materially affect participants' account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.





7



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


3.  Investments (continued)

Investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets are as follows:

   

December 31,

   

2009


 

2008


         

*

Chemical Financial Corporation common stock

$4,636,417

 

$5,127,467

*

Chemical Bank ChemSweep Money Market

2,683,259

 

**

 

Federated Investors Intermediate Bond Fund

2,223,673

 

2,342,311

 

Federated Investors Money Market Fund

**

 

2,678,179

 

Fidelity Investments Puritan Trust Fund

2,665,503

 

2,057,668

 

Fidelity Investments Diversified International Fund

2,225,827

 

1,729,946

 

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

3,316,196

 

2,500,777

 

Royce Premier Fund

6,464,781

 

2,880,102

 

T Rowe Price Growth Fund

2,575,863

 

1,659,695

 

Vanguard Windsor Fund II

2,160,957

 

1,618,337

 

Vanguard Mid Cap Index Fund

**

 

1,828,115

   
       

*

Party-in-interest.

     

**

Investment does not represent 5% or more of fair value of the Plan's net assets.


4.  Fair Value Measurements

Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) provide a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under GAAP are described below:

Level 1

 

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.

 





8



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


4.  Fair Value Measurements (continued)

Level 2

 

Inputs to the valuation methodology include:

 
       
   

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

 
   

Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

 
   

Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;

 
   

Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 
       
   

If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 
       

Level 3

 

Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

The asset's or liability's fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for Plan assets measured at fair value.

Chemical Financial Corporation common stock: Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the security is traded.

Mutual funds: Valued at the net asset value, based on quoted market prices in active markets, of shares held by the Plan at year end.

Participant loans: Valued at outstanding balance, which approximates fair value.

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.



9



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


4.  Fair Value Measurements (continued)

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan's assets measured at fair value at December 31, 2009 and 2008:

 

Level 1


 

Level 2


 

Level 3


 

Total


December 31, 2009

             

Chemical Financial Corporation
    common stock


$  4,636,417

         


$  4,636,417

Mutual funds

30,344,499

         

30,344,499

Participant loans

-


     

$737,419


 

737,419


Total

$34,980,916


     

$737,419


 

$35,718,335


               

December 31, 2008

             

Chemical Financial Corporation
    common stock


$  5,127,467

         


$  5,127,467

Mutual funds

24,633,924

         

24,633,924

Participant loans

-


     

$563,632


 

563,632


Total

$29,761,391


     

$563,632


 

$30,325,023



The table below sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Plan's Level 3 assets measured at fair value for the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

Participant
Loans


 

Balance, beginning of year

$563,632

 

Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements (net)

173,787


 

Balance, end of year

$737,419


 

5.  Income Tax Status

The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated March 31, 2008, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. The Plan Administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax exempt.






10



Chemical Financial Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

 

EIN:  38-2022454

Plan Number:  002

 

Schedule H, Line 4i-Schedule of Assets
(Held at End of Year)

December 31, 2009




(a)





 


(b)
Identity of Issue, Borrower,
Lessor or Similar Party





 

(c)
Description of Investment Including
Maturity Date, Rate of Interest,
Collateral, Par or Maturity Value




(d)
Cost





 


(e)
Current
Value


   

Common Stock:

             

*

 

    Chemical Financial Corporation

 

Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share

 

**

 

$

4,636,417

                   
   

Mutual Funds:

             
   

    Federated Investors Mutual Funds

 

Intermediate Bond Fund

 

**

   

2,223,673

       

Long-term Bond Fund

 

**

   

732,443

                   
   

    Fidelity Investments

 

Fidelity Puritan Trust Fund

 

**

   

2,665,503

       

Fidelity Diversified International Fund

 

**

   

2,225,827

       

Fidelity Freedom Institutional Investors Fund

 

**

   

338,760

       

Fidelity Freedom 2010 Fund

 

**

   

822,104

       

Fidelity Freedom 2020 Fund

 

**

   

1,062,271

       

Fidelity Freedom 2030 Fund

 

**

   

659,412

       

Fidelity Freedom 2040 Fund

 

**

   

1,010,380

       

Fidelity Freedom 2050 Fund

 

**

   

361,697

                   
   

    Vanguard Investments

 

Vanguard 500 Index Fund

 

**

   

3,316,196

       

Vanguard Windsor Fund II

 

**

   

2,160,957

       

Vanguard Inflation Protection Fund

 

**

   

54

                   
   

    Other Mutual Funds

 

Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund

 

**

   

845,518

       

Royce Premier Fund

 

**

   

6,464,781

       

T Rowe Price Growth Fund

 

**

   

2,575,863

       

Selected American D Fund

 

**

   

1,124,412

       

PIMCO Total Return Bond Fund

 

**

   

1,730,212

       

Pennsylvania Mutual Fund

 

**

   

7,909

       

Lazard Emerging Markets Fund

 

**

   

16,527


   

Total Mutual Funds

           

30,344,499


                   
   

Cash and cash equivalents:

             
   

    Cash

           

17,224

*

 

    Chemical Bank

 

ChemSweep-Money Market

 

**

   

2,683,259

*

 

    Chemical Bank

 

ChemSecure-Money Market

 

**

   

304,890


   

Total cash and cash equivalents

           

3,005,373


                   

*

 

Participant Loans

 

Interest rate range:  6.23% to 8.00%;

         
       

   with various maturity dates

 

-0-

   

737,419


               

$


38,723,708


*Party-in-interest

**Historical cost information is not required for participant directed investments.



11



Exhibits:

23.1

Consent of Andrews Hooper & Pavlik P.L.C. dated June 3, 2010.
















12



SIGNATURES

The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated:

June 3, 2010

CHEMICAL FINANCIAL CORPORATION 401(K)
SAVINGS PLAN

       
       
   

By:

/s/ Lori A. Gwizdala
     

Lori A. Gwizdala
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
and Administrator of the Chemical Financial
Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan

       
       
       
       
   

By:

/s/ Kimberly K. Martin
     

Kimberly K. Martin
Senior Vice President and Controller












13



EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit

                                  Document

   

23.1

Consent of Andrews Hooper & Pavlik P.L.C. dated June 3, 2010.













14