	bank of new england bkne o post pro forma net bank of new england corp reported that pro forma first quarter ings which reflect its combined operations under a pending merger with the conifer group rose to mln dlrs or cts a share from mln dlrs or cts a share in the merger is expected to close on april earlier bank of new england reported first quarter net income not taking the merger into account rose to dlrs from cts a share note first quarter of does not include restatement from recent acquisitions after restatement net income was mln dlrs the pro forma first quarter results include nonrecurring merger expenses of mln dlrs excluding these expenses growth in operating expenses of the combined companies was reduced from pct to pct during the first quarter loans and leases increased pct to billion dlrs and deposits grew pct to billion dlrs the provision for possible credit losses was mln dlrs in the first quarter compared with mln dlrs last year net charge offs were mln dlrs down from mln dlrs in reuter 
