|Exhibit 10.5.1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|MBVT Statutory Trust I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|Merchants Bancshares, Inc.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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|December 15, 2004                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made among MBVT Statutory Trust I (the "Trust"), a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C.[SECTION] 3801, et seq.), Merchants Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its principal offices located at 275 Kennedy Drive, South Burlington, Vermont  05403 (the "Company" and, collectively with the Trust, the "Offerors"), and Preferred Term Securities XVI, Ltd. (the "Purchaser").                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|RECITALS:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
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|A.  The Trust desires to issue 20,000 of its Fixed/Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities"), liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security, representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust (the "Offering"), to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the administrators named therein, and the holders (as defined therein), which Capital Securities are to be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to the terms of a Guarantee Agreement between the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Guarantee"); and
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|B.  The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent amount of Fixed/Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures") to be issued by the Company pursuant to an indenture to be executed by the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Indenture"); and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
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|C.  In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|ARTICLE I                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
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|PURCHASE AND SALE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|1.1.  Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Trust 20,000 Capital Securities at a price equal to $1,000.00 per Capital Security (the "Purchase Price") and the Trust agrees to sell such Capital Securities to the Purchaser for said Purchase Price.  The rights and preferences of the Capital Securities are set forth in the Declaration.  The Purchase Price is payable in immediately available funds on December 15, 2004, or such other business day as may be designated by the Purchaser, but in no event later than December 31, 2004 (the "Closing Date").  The Offerors shall provide the Purchaser wire transfer instructions no later than 1 day following the date hereof.                  
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|1.2.  The certificate for the Capital Securities shall be delivered by the Trust on the Closing Date to the Purchaser or its designee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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|1.3.  The Placement Agreement, dated December 7, 2004 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Offerors and the Placement Agents identified therein includes certain representations and warranties, covenants and conditions to closing and certain other matters governing the Offering.  The                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               



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|Placement Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and the Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchaser under the Placement Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Offerors under such Placement Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party to such Placement Agreement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|ARTICLE II                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
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|2.1.  The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that neither the Capital Securities, the Debentures nor the Guarantee have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any other applicable securities law, are being offered for sale by the Trust in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred by the Purchaser except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction not subject thereto.                                             
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|2.2.  The Purchaser represents, warrants and certifies that (i) it is not a "U.S. person" as such term is defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act, (ii) it is not acquiring the Capital Securities for the account or benefit of any such U.S. person, (iii) the offer and sale of Capital Securities to the Purchaser constitutes an "offshore transaction" under Regulation S of the Securities Act, and (iv) it will not engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Capital Securities unless such transactions are conducted in compliance with the Securities Act and the Purchaser agrees to the legends and transfer restrictions set forth on the Capital Securities certificate.
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|2.3.  The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is purchasing the Capital Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all times within its control and subject to its ability to resell such Capital Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under Rule 144A or any other exemption from registration available under the Securities Act or any other applicable Securities law.               
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|2.4.  The Purchaser represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to make the representations and warranties specified herein, and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and it has full right and power to subscribe for Capital Securities and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
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|2.5.  The Purchaser, a Cayman Islands Company whose business includes issuance of certain notes and acquiring the Capital Securities and other similar securities, represents and warrants that it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of purchasing the Capital Securities, has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers and request additional information from, the Offerors and is aware that it may be required to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Capital Securities.                                                                                                 
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|2.6.  The Purchaser represents and warrants that no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, other than those that have been made or obtained, is necessary or required for the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        



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|2.7.  The Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|2.8.  The Purchaser represents and warrants that (i) the Purchaser is not in violation or default of any term of its Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association, of any provision of any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, instrument or contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound or of any judgment, decree, order, writ or, to its knowledge, any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Purchaser which would prevent the Purchaser from performing any material obligation set forth in this Agreement; and (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of and compliance with this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, will not, with or without the passage of time or giving of notice, result in any such material violation, or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any such term, or the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or non-renewal of any permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to the Purchaser, its business or operations or any of its assets or properties which would prevent the Purchaser from performing any material obligations set forth in this Agreement.
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|2.9.  The Purchaser represents and warrants that the Purchaser is an exempted company with limited liability duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction where it is organized, with full power and authority to perform its obligations under this Agreement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
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|2.10.  The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties or agreements deemed to have been made by it by its purchase of the Capital Securities are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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|2.11.  The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for any of the Capital Securities, and that it is unlikely that a public market will ever exist for the Capital Securities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
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|ARTICLE III                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
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|MISCELLANEOUS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
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|3.1.  Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, international courier or delivered by hand against written receipt therefor, or by facsimile transmission and confirmed by telephone, to the following addresses, or such other address as may be furnished to the other parties as herein provided:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
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|Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, notices shall be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing, except notice of change of address, which shall be deemed to have been given when received.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
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|3.2.  This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or amended except by a writing signed by the parties to be charged, and this Agreement may not be discharged except by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing signed by the party tobe charged.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|3.3.  Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser, this Agreement shall become a binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect to the purchase of Capital Securities as herein provided.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|3.4.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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|3.5.  The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents, agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
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|3.6.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
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|3.7.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Offerors' and the Purchaser's rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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|Signatures appear on the following page                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             



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|IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand the day and year first written above.                            
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|PREFERRED TERM SECURITIES XVI, LTD.                                                                     
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|By:                                                                                                     
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|Print Name:                                                                                             
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|Title:                                                                                                  
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|IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of the day and year first written above.
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