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EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES INCd819572dex991.htm

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 12, 2014

 

 

SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Pennsylvania   001-33872   23-2201716

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

26 North Cedar Street, Lititz, Pennsylvania   17543
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (717) 626-4721

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

  x Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS

On November 12, 2014, Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc. (“Susquehanna”) announced its entry into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with BB&T Corporation (“BB&T”), dated as of November 11, 2014, providing for the acquisition of Susquehanna by BB&T through the merger of Susquehanna with and into BB&T, with BB&T surviving the merger.

A copy of the press release containing the announcement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein. In addition, BB&T will be providing supplemental information regarding the merger in a presentation to analysts and investors.

 

ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

99.1    Press Release, dated November 12, 2014.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibits attached hereto contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 giving Susquehanna’s and BB&T’s expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “estimate,” “continue,” “positions,” “prospects” or “potential,” by future conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may”, or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and we assume no duty to update forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from current projections.

In addition to factors previously disclosed in Susquehanna’s and BB&T’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and those identified elsewhere in this document, the following factors among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: ability to obtain regulatory approvals and meet other closing conditions to the merger, including approval by Susquehanna shareholders on the expected terms and schedule; delay in closing the merger; difficulties and delays in integrating the Susquehanna business or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits; business disruption following the merger; changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer acceptance of BB&T products and services; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; economic conditions; and the impact, extent and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.


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 and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, BB&T will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a Proxy Statement of Susquehanna and a Prospectus of BB&T, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. SHAREHOLDERS OF SUSQUEHANNA ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE MERGER WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

A free copy of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about BB&T and Susquehanna, may be obtained at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from BB&T at www.bbt.com under the heading “About” and then under the heading “Investor Relations” and then under “BB&T Corporation SEC Filings” or from Susquehanna by accessing Susquehanna’s website at www.susquehanna.net under the heading “Investor Relations” and then under “SEC Filings”. Copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a request to BB&T Corporation, 150 South Stratford Road, Suite 300, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104, Attention: Shareholder Services, Telephone: (336) 733-3065 or to Susquehanna Bancshares, Inc., 26 North Cedar Street, Lititz, Pennsylvania 17543, Attention: Jason H. Weber, Vice President and Director of Investor Relations, Telephone (717) 626-9801. In addition, Susquehanna uses its Investor Relations website and social media outlets as channels of distribution of material company information. Such information is accessible on Susquehanna’s Investor Relations website, as well as on Susquehanna’s Facebook page and through its Twitter account and Linkedin account.

Susquehanna and certain of its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Susquehanna in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of Susquehanna and their ownership of Susquehanna common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Susquehanna’s 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on March 21, 2014. Additional information regarding the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may be obtained by reading the Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES, INC.
(Registrant)
By:  

/s/ William J. Reuter

  William J. Reuter
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: November 12, 2014


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit

99.1    Press release, dated November 12, 2014.