JASPER, Ind.–(GLOBE NEWSWIRE)–German American Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:GABC) announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of First Security, Inc., the parent company of First Security Bank, Inc. of Owensboro, Kentucky, effective as of October 15, 2018.
Immediately following the merger of First Security, Inc. into German American Bancorp, Inc., First Security Bank, Inc. merged with and into German American’s banking subsidiary, German American Bank.
First Security’s common shareholders of record on October 15, 2018 will be entitled to receive 0.7982 shares of German American common stock and a cash payment of $12.00 for each of their former shares of First Security common stock, subject to their surrender of the old First Security shares to the exchange agent designated by German American. Instructions and forms to accomplish that surrender and exchange process are being mailed by the exchange agent to each of First Security’s shareholders of record as of October 15, 2018.
Mark A. Schroeder, Chairman and CEO of German American, stated, “We are pleased the merger received the overwhelming approval of the First Security shareholders and are delighted to welcome First Security’s customers, employees and shareholders to German American. This merger with First Security represents a strategic opportunity for German American to expand our community-focused, customer-centric business model into the vibrant Kentucky metropolitan markets of Owensboro, Bowling Green, and Lexington. First Security has built a solid community banking franchise in these three distinct Kentucky markets in which German American can provide our extensive offerings of banking, insurance, and investment products and services to First Security’s current and prospective clients.
“The combination of our two organizations provides an important entrance for German American into three of the largest Kentucky metropolitan market areas, and enhances German American’s existing presence in the Evansville, Indiana metropolitan market area, which is the third largest metropolitan market in Indiana and where we currently hold a significant and growing market share. We’re extremely excited about the multiple future organic growth opportunities this merger will afford our Company.”
Schroeder continued, “We expect that this strategic transaction will be accretive to German American’s earnings per share during the 12 months following completion of the transaction, and will have a quick tangible book value earn back. Following completion of the merger, German American’s pro forma capital ratios will continue to significantly exceed regulatory well-capitalized levels, enabling us to continue to take advantage of future organic and acquisition growth opportunities in Kentucky and throughout our existing Southern Indiana market area.”
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