Bridgeport’s preeminent banking institution, with a history dating back to 1842, has been purchased by rival M&T Bank Corporation for $7.6 billion. Under the agreement “People’s United’s current headquarters in Bridgeport, Connecticut will become the New England regional headquarters for M&T.”
Who knows what the future brings …
News release:
Buffalo, NY and Bridgeport, CT, February 22, 2021–M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE: MTB) (“M&T”) and People’s United Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBCT) (“People’s United”) announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which M&T will acquire People’s United in an all-stock transaction.
The combined company will create a diversified, community-focused banking franchise with approximately $200 billion in assets and a network of more than 1,100 branches and over 2,000 ATMs that spans 12 states from Maine to Virginia and the District of Columbia. The combined franchise will operate across some of the most populated and attractive banking markets in the U.S. As part of the transaction, People’s United’s current headquarters in Bridgeport, Connecticut will become the New England regional headquarters for M&T, further strengthening the combined company’s commitment to Connecticut and the region.
Under the terms of the agreement, People’s United shareholders will receive 0.118 of a share of M&T common stock for each People’s United share they own. Following completion of the transaction, former People’s United shareholders will collectively own approximately 28% of the combined company. The implied total transaction value based on closing prices on February 19, 2021 is approximately $7.6 billion.
“In People’s United, we have found a partner with an equally long history of serving and supporting customers, businesses and communities,” said René Jones, chairman and chief executive officer of M&T, who will lead the combined company in the same capacity. “Combining our common legacies and our complementary footprints will strengthen our ability to serve our communities and customers, and provide solutions that make a difference in people’s lives. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity and look forward to welcoming new customers and team members to our M&T family.”
“M&T is a like-minded partner that shares our culture of supporting communities by focusing on building meaningful relationships and providing personalized products, services and local market expertise to customers, while building on our legacy of excellence in service,” said Jack Barnes, chairman and chief executive officer of People’s United. “The merger extends our reach by providing customers access to a larger banking network and an expanded array of services. I am confident our shared community banking philosophies will provide significant long-term value for our shareholders, employees and loyal customers.”
Key attractions of the proposed transaction
— Unique strategic position and enhanced platform for growth: The merger will create the leading community-focused commercial bank in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, with the scale and share to compete effectively. The two companies have a complementary top-tier deposit share in core markets with a top three share in most of their respective top 10 markets. The footprint of the combined company spans an economically diverse region that accounts for over 20% of the U.S. population and over 25% of U.S. GDP.
— Shared commitment to local communities: Both companies have been long recognized for their community commitments and longstanding support of civic organizations. Over the past decade, M&T, through The M&T Charitable Foundation, has donated $263.7 million to over 2,800 nonprofit organizations across eight states and the District of Columbia. M&T Bank has been awarded the highest possible Community Reinvestment Act rating on every examination since 1982 from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. People’s United Community Foundation and People’s United Community Foundation of Eastern Massachusetts has granted $40 million to nonprofits aligned with the Foundations’ collective mission since its inception in 2007. Through the foundations, M&T will use $90 million to support charitable activities in the communities currently served by People’s United.
— Compelling financial impacts: M&T expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to its tangible book value per share. It is further expected that the transaction will be 10-12% accretive to M&T’s earnings per share in 2023, reflecting estimated annual cost synergies of approximately $330 million.
Upon closing, Jack Barnes, Kirk Walters and three other current members of the board of directors of People’s United will join M&T’s board of directors.
The merger has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each company. The merger is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals and approval by the shareholders of each company.
Lazard acted as financial advisor to M&T in connection with the transaction and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as legal advisor. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a Stifel Company, served as lead financial advisor to People’s United. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC also served as financial advisor, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal advisor to People’s United.
Investor call and webcast
M&T will hold a conference call today, February 22, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss today’s announcement. A live webcast of the call and the replay will be available on the websites of M&T and People’s United. A conference call replay will be available. To view details for the webcast, visit: https://ir.mtb.com/events-presentations. To listen to the live conference call, dial 800-459-5343 or 203-518-9553 and reference the passcode Conference ID: MA529273. To access the replay, dial 800-283-4642 and reference the passcode Conference ID: MA529273.
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About M&T Bank Corporation
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.
Watch how quick they get rid of Bridgeport as the NE Regional HQ.
Dead weight.
Another one bites the dust.
Number 2 COVID vaccine.
I’m good to go.
Now I can ………
I can’t do nothing that I couldn’t do before. Oh well, what the hell
Bob, you are so negative.
The People’s HQ is a symbol of capitalism.
Perhaps the Connecticut delegation can add funds to the Covid ‘rescue’ package in order to purchase the building for housing some of the hordes of ‘migrants’ crossing the southern border.
Capitalism has no loyalty to the public good.
I thought your man DJT fixed the immigration problem. He just stopped them from coming by building a wall.
If he was re-elected he was planning on making it 30 feet high.
That oughtta fixem but goody.
No Tom. Corporate welfare is a favorite of DJT and his Republican Party. Don’t pin 📍 that paper monster on the Democrats.
when the PEOPLES Tower was build with the generosity of Bridgeport tax credits I believe one of the things that they promised in return was that there would be no corporate cafeteria in the building so as to encourage employees to go out into the city at lunch time.
Never happened. They’ve been eating in ever since.
RIP, Bridgeport… All of the morticians that have been ministering to you in City Hall, Hartford, and DC, in recent years, should be able to provide a great funeral for you — and get maximum value in the fire-sale of the usable parts of your corpse (a la Alistair Cooke)… (The proceedings can be the last broadcast of WPKN as the last one out what’s left of Downtown turns off the lights.)
Lenny: You can start a new blog; “Only in No-man’s Land”…
A HUGE blow to Downtown Bpt,no way MT bank stays down there..Now what?
With all these Democratic Mayors and Governor’s keeping everything locked up. How the hell is this city going to survive .with no tax base to start with and nothing open.
Hold on to your wallet. This state and the cities are coming after you.
Talked with a friend last night who is a 22 yr employee. He said the news hit him and the rest of the staff in his division like a brick.
The threat of significant branch closings and layoffs are real,especially in upper management, they are scrambling now..