Shareholders' equity (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Shareholders' equity [Abstract]

Issued and outstanding preferred stock

Issued and outstanding preferred stock of M&T is presented below:

	Shares issued and outstanding		Carrying value June 30, 2012		Carrying value December 31,  2011
	(dollars in thousands)
Series A (a)(b)
Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, $1,000 liquidation preference per share		230,000	$	225,570	$	224,277
Series C (a)(c)
Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, $1,000 liquidation preference per share		151,500		142,863		140,308
Series D (d)
Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D, $10,000 liquidation preference per share		50,000		500,000		500,000

(a) Shares were issued as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program – Capital Purchase Program of the U.S. Department of Treasury (“U.S. Treasury”). Cash proceeds were allocated between the preferred stock and a ten-year warrant to purchase M&T common stock (Series A – 1,218,522 common shares at $73.86 per share, Series C – 407,542 common shares at $55.76 per share). Dividends, if declared, will accrue and be paid quarterly at a rate of 5% per year for the first five years following the original 2008 issuance dates and thereafter at a rate of 9% per year. The agreement with the U.S. Treasury contains limitations on certain actions of M&T, including the payment of quarterly cash dividends on M&T’s common stock in excess of $.70 per share, the repurchase of its common stock during the first three years of the agreement, and the amount and nature of compensation arrangements for certain of the Company’s officers.

(b) On May 18, 2011, M&T redeemed and retired 370,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Accelerated amortization of preferred stock discount associated with the redemption was $11.2 million.

(c) Shares were assumed in an acquisition and a new Series C Preferred Stock was designated.

(d) Shares were issued on May 31, 2011. Dividends, if declared, will be paid semi-annually at a rate of 6.875% per year. The shares are redeemable in whole or in part on or after June 15, 2016. Notwithstanding M&T’s option to redeem the shares, if an event occurs such that the shares no longer qualify as Tier 1 capital, M&T may redeem all of the shares within 90 days following that occurrence.