First Horizon National Corp. (“First Horizon”) and IBERIABANK Corporation (“IBERIABANK”) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger of equals.
Under the terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, the combined holding company and bank will operate under the First Horizon name and will be headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Once the transaction is completed, the combined company will be one of the largest financial services companies headquartered in the South and one of the top 25 banks in the U.S. in deposits.
The combined organization will have $75 billion in assets, $57 billion in deposits and $55 billion in loans. The merger combines two complementary franchises that are uniquely positioned to capitalize on market opportunities and increase their client base through greater scale, strategic investments in advanced technologies and expanded product offerings.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, IBERIABANK shareholders will receive 4.584 shares of First Horizon for each IBERIABANK share they own. First Horizon shareholders will own 56% and IBERIABANK shareholders will own 44% of the combined company. Additionally, IBERIABANK shareholders will receive a 43% increase in their dividend after consummation of the transaction, based upon each company’s current dividend per share.
Bryan Jordan, Chairman and CEO of First Horizon, said, “Our merger of equals with IBERIABANK is an exciting milestone and the logical next step in the continued successful transformation of our company.
Separately, we are both formidable organizations with strong track records, great businesses and
talented bankers. Together, First Horizon and IBERIABANK will create a powerful new company driven by our shared commitment to our customers, communities, shareholders and the employees we serve. We are pleased to have a partner with a complementary people-focused culture, shared values and a growth- oriented business model. Our combined new scale, deep experience in financial services and diverse business mix in the South uniquely position us to accelerate our growth and create lasting shareholder value.”
IBERIABANK President and CEO Daryl Byrd said, “This merger of equals represents an exciting next chapter for both companies. By joining forces with First Horizon, we will create an organization that has the resources to invest in advanced technologies and expand lending capacity and product offerings for our combined clients. We chose a partner who values deep relationships and is culturally aligned with our core mission, which is to create a great place to work for employees, deliver extraordinary, value-based client service, meet the expectations of our shareholders and invest in the communities we serve. Our partnership will leverage our best-in-class workforce and build on and complement the well-established strong foundations of both organizations. We look forward to bringing our companies together to better serve our clients and communities.”
The merger is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020.
