I am pleased to share some exciting news about the future of our company. Today we announced the merger of First Horizon with IBERIABANK to create a leading regional financial services company. You can see the press release regarding this announcement HERE.
This announcement comes on the heels of the introduction of our new, unified First Horizon brand and is the next step in our continued transformation and commitment to serve our clients. Together, First Horizon and IBERIABANK will be uniquely positioned to deliver the superior client experience that you’ve come to expect from us through greater scale, strategic investments in advanced technologies and expanded product offerings.
For those of you who are not familiar, IBERIABANK is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana and has $32 billion in assets and 3,400 associates across its footprint. Our combined organization will have $75 billion in assets, $57 billion in deposits and $55 billion in loans across 11 states.
The new company will retain the First Horizon name, be headquartered in Memphis, TN and will maintain a significant presence in all of the markets in which both companies operate today. The combined company’s regional banking headquarters will be located in New Orleans.
Looking ahead, the transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Until that time, First Horizon and IBERIABANK will continue to be separate, independent companies and your day-to-day banking won’t change.
Our clients remain our top priority and we are committed to providing you with the same high-quality banking services you have come to rely on from First Horizon. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to your usual contact at First Horizon.
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer
This communication contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”) with respect to First Horizon’s and IBKC’s beliefs, plans, goals, expectations, and estimates. Forward-looking statements are not a representation of historical information, but instead pertain to future operations, strategies, financial results or other developments. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “should,” “is likely,” “will,” “going forward” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, operational, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of First Horizon and IBKC, and many of which, with respect to future business decisions and actions, are subject to change and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements or historical performance. Examples of uncertainties and contingencies include factors previously disclosed in First Horizon’s and IBKC’s respective reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as the following factors, among others: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between First Horizon and IBKC; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against First Horizon or IBKC; the possibility that the proposed transaction will not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals are not received or other conditions to the closing are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all, or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed combination could have adverse effects on the market price of the common stock of either or both parties to the combination; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction will not be realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where First Horizon and IBKC do business; certain restrictions during the pendency of the merger that may impact the parties’ ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or associate relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; First Horizon and IBKC success in executing their respective business plans and strategies and managing the risks involved in the foregoing; the dilution caused by First Horizon’s issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed transaction; and other factors that may affect future results of First Horizon and IBKC.
We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking statements can be found in First Horizon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and in its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and available in the “Investor Relations” section of First Horizon’s website, www.firsthorizon.com, under the heading “SEC Filings” and in other documents First Horizon files with the SEC, and in IBKC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, and in its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC and available in the “Investor Relations” section of IBKC’s website,www.iberiabank.com, under the heading “Financials & Filings” and in other documents IBKC files with the SEC.
In connection with the proposed transaction, First Horizon will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 to register the shares of First Horizon’s capital stock to be issued in connection with the proposed transaction. The registration statement will include a joint proxy statement of First Horizon and IBKC which will be sent to the shareholders of First Horizon and IBKC seeking their approval of the proposed transaction.
This communication 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. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF FIRST HORIZON AND IBKC ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FIRST HORIZON, IBKC AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and shareholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the registration statement, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC containing information about First Horizon and IBKC, without charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the registration statement, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Clyde A. Billings Jr., First Horizon, 165 Madison, Memphis, TN 38103, telephone (901) 523-5679, or Jefferson G. Parker, IBKC, 200 West Congress Street, Lafayette, LA 70501, telephone (504) 310-7314.
First Horizon, IBKC and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and associates may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information regarding First Horizon’s directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 11, 2019, and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Information regarding IBKC’s directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with SEC on March 28, 2019, and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC. Free copies of these documents, when available, may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
