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): December 22, 2018

Cadence Bancorporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(713) 871-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

On December 24, 2018, Cadence Bancorporation (“Cadence”) and State Bank Financial Corporation (“State Bank”) issued a joint press release announcing that Cadence had exercised its right to increase the exchange ratio in the merger between Cadence and State Bank in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 11, 2018, between Cadence and State Bank (the “Merger Agreement”). This action was taken on December 22, 2018 following Cadence’s receipt from State Bank of the notice contemplated by Section 8.1(h) of the Merger Agreement. The press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

* * *

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our results of operations, financial condition and financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “would” and “outlook,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the “Risk Factors” referenced in our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 21, 2018, and our Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC on July 20, 2018, other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our reports and documents filed with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the following factors: business and economic conditions generally and in the financial services industry, nationally and within our current and future geographic market areas; economic, market, operational, liquidity, credit and interest rate risks associated with our business; lack of seasoning in our loan portfolio; deteriorating asset quality and higher loan charge-offs; the laws and regulations applicable to our business; our ability to achieve organic loan and deposit growth and the composition of such growth; increased competition in the financial services industry, nationally, regionally or locally; our ability to maintain our historical earnings trends; our ability to raise additional capital to implement our business plan; material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting; systems failures or interruptions involving our information technology and telecommunications systems or third-party servicers; the composition of our management team and our ability to attract and retain key personnel; the fiscal position of the U.S. federal government and the soundness of other financial institutions; the composition of our loan portfolio, including the identify of our borrowers and the concentration of loans in energy-related industries and in our specialized industries; the portion of our loan portfolio that is comprised of participations and shared national credits; the amount of nonperforming and classified assets we hold; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of Cadence or State Bank to terminate the definitive merger agreement between Cadence and State Bank; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Cadence or State Bank; the failure to satisfy any of the remaining conditions to the closing of the transaction on a timely basis or at all; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the merger with State Bank are not 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 Cadence and State Bank do business; 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 employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction. Cadence can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this communication, and Cadence does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.

Important Additional Information

In connection with the pending transaction between Cadence and State Bank, on June 13, 2018, Cadence filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) including a preliminary joint information statement of Cadence and proxy statement of State Bank and a prospectus of Cadence (the “Joint Information Statement/Proxy Statement and Prospectus”). The definitive Joint Information Statement/Proxy Statement and Prospectus was first mailed or otherwise delivered to Cadence stockholders and State Bank shareholders on or about July 27, 2018. On May 11, 2018, Cadence Bancorp, LLC, as the controlling stockholder of Cadence, delivered a written consent approving the transaction. On September 18, 2018, State Bank’s shareholders approved the transaction at a special meeting. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Stockholders of Cadence and shareholders of State Bank are urged to read the Registration Statement and Joint Information Statement/Proxy Statement and Prospectus 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.

Shareholders are able to obtain a free copy of the Registration Statement and Joint Information Statement/Proxy Statement and Prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Cadence and State Bank, without charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the Registration Statement and Joint Information Statement/Proxy Statement and Prospectus and the filings with the SEC incorporated by reference therein can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Cadence Bancorporation, 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 3800, Houston, Texas 77056, Attention: Corporate Secretary or to State Bank Financial Corporation, 3399 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1900, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

(d)    Exhibits.

SIGNATURE

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.