LOS ANGELES and DURHAM, N.C.–(GLOBE NEWSWIRE)–PacWest Bancorp (Nasdaq:PACW) (“PacWest”) and Square 1 Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:SQBK) (“Square 1”) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the “Agreement”) whereby PacWest will acquire Square 1 in a transaction valued at approximately $849 million. The Square 1 lending operations will continue to do business under the name Square 1 as a division of Pacific Western Bank.
Square 1 Financial, Inc., headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, is the parent of Square 1 Bank, a North Carolina commercial bank with approximately $3.1 billion in assets at December 31, 2014, one banking office in Durham, and twelve loan production offices throughout the United States. In connection with the transaction, Square 1 Bank will be merged into Pacific Western Bank, the Los Angeles-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of PacWest Bancorp. PacWest had $16.2 billion in assets at December 31, 2014 and 80 branches located primarily in southern and central California. The combined company will remain headquartered in Los Angeles and will have senior executives from each of the organizations in key positions. Upon completion of the transaction, one former Square 1 director will be appointed to the PacWest board.
The transaction, currently expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2015, is subject to customary conditions, including the approval of bank regulatory authorities and the Square 1 stockholders. Certain stockholders of Square 1 have agreed to vote in favor of the transaction.
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