Equity Bancshares, Inc. Expands Into Oklahoma, Announces Two Merger Agreements With Eastman National Bank and Patriot Bank
WICHITA, Kan.,
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After the mergers conclude, Equity will have completed 13 successful integrations in its first 15 years, and five mergers since the Company’s initial public offering on
“Each time we partner with a strong, local community bank, we’re fortunate to work alongside a group of bankers who match up with our philosophy of strong credit culture, significant community involvement, and commitment to our customers. Eastman and Patriot are no exception. We’re pleased to welcome employees and leadership with similar values to ours,” said Brad Elliott, Chairman and CEO of Equity. “We believe these mergers continue our model of adding markets that help build our footprint, like Ponca City and Newkirk, complemented by metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Wichita, and now Tulsa. We’re proud to offer sophisticated, innovative financial products and services coupled with the customization and local decision-making customers expect from a community bank.”
Equity reported
Eastman principally conducts banking business through four full-service branch locations in Kay County, Oklahoma, including branches in Ponca City, Oklahoma and the original Eastman branch in Newkirk, Oklahoma, which was established in 1893 as
“We’re pleased to announce our next chapter and continued, dedicated service to the Ponca City and Newkirk communities. We’re particularly pleased to work with
“Our customers and communities will benefit from additional products, services and solutions of a strong bank with a regional network committed to Kay County and our community bank customers,” added Mr. Detten.
As of
At closing of the transaction, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2017, Eastman will merge with and into Equity, subject to receipt of customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, including Eastman shareholder approval. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, approved by the boards of directors of Equity and Eastman, at the effective time of the merger the shareholders of Eastman will have the right to receive an aggregate consideration of approximately
Based on Equity’s closing stock price on
Equity expects the merger to be approximately
“We’re pleased to partner with a bank that shares many of our core principles and values, and provides honest, straightforward service to our business clients,” said Mike Bezanson, Chairman and CEO of Patriot. “Since founding
As of
At closing of the transaction, which is anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2017, Patriot’s parent company will merge with and into Equity, subject to receipt of customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, including the approval of Patriot shareholders. Patriot’s long-tenured management team of Mr. Bezanson, Jay Morey, and Philip Houchin will continue to serve Equity’s Tulsa market.
Under the terms of the definitive agreement, approved by the boards of directors of Equity and Patriot, at the effective time of the merger the shareholders of Patriot will have the right to receive an aggregate consideration of approximately
Based on Equity’s closing stock price on
Equity expects the merger to be approximately
Conference Call and Webcast
Participants may dial into the call toll-free at (844) 534-7311 from anywhere in the U.S. or (574) 990-1419 internationally, using conference ID no. 50341624. Participants are encouraged to dial into the call approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time. Investors, news media, and other participants may also view the webcast at investor.equitybank.com.
A replay of the call and webcast will be available two hours following the close of the call until
Equity will post presentation slides on its website to be addressed by management during the call. The slides will be available for download on Equity’s website approximately one hour before the start of the call. Please note that slides will not advance automatically if streaming call or listening to conference call audio.
About
Equity provides an enhanced banking experience for customers through a suite of sophisticated banking products and services tailored to their needs, while delivering the high-quality, relationship-based customer service of a community bank. Equity’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “EQBK.”
Equity will release its second quarter 2017 results on
Participants may dial into the call toll-free at (844) 534-7311 from anywhere in the U.S. or (574) 990-1419 internationally, using conference ID no. 37238820. Participants are encouraged to dial into the call approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time. Investors, news media, and other participants may also view the webcast at investor.equitybank.com.
Additional Information for Investors and Shareholders
The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. In connection with the proposed merger of Equity and each of Eastman and Patriot, Equity will file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the
These documents will contain important information relating to the proposed transactions. When filed, this document and other documents relating to the merger filed by Equity can be obtained free of charge from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. These documents also can be obtained free of charge by accessing Equity's website at www.equitybank.com under the tab “Investor Relations” and then under “Financials.” Alternatively, these documents, when available, can be obtained free of charge from Equity by directing a request to
Participants in the Transactions
Eastman, Patriot, and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed under the rules of the SEC to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the respective shareholders of Eastman or Patriot in connection with the proposed transaction. Certain information regarding the interests of these participants and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus regarding each of the proposed transactions when it becomes available. Additional information about Equity and its directors and officers may be found in the definitive proxy statement of Equity relating to its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on
No Offer or Solicitation
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to sell, or the solicitation or an offer to buy any securities. There will be no sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirement of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Equity’s management with respect to, among other things, future events and Equity’s financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “goal,” “target,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Equity’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Equity’s control. Accordingly, Equity cautions you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although Equity believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Equity’s expectations include competition from other financial institutions and bank holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.
For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Equity’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purpose only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.
Important Additional Information
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Investors and security holders are urged to carefully review and consider Equity’s public filings with the SEC, including but not limited to its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its proxy statement, its Current Reports on Form 8-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The documents filed by Equity with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at Equity’s investor relations website at investor.equitybank.com or at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, these documents, when available, can be obtained free of charge from Equity upon written request to
Media and Investor Contacts: John J. Hanley SVP, Director of Investor RelationsEquity Bancshares, Inc. (913) 583-8004 jhanley@equitybank.com Mark T. Detten President & CEOEastman National Bancshares, Inc. (580) 718-9990 mdetten@eastmannational.com Michael E. Bezanson Chairman & CEOCache Holdings, Inc. (918) 209-5200 mike.bezanson@patriotbankok.com