Filed by: Old National Bancorp
(Commission File No.: 001-15817)
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Subject Company: First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
(Commission File No.: 0-10967)
June 4, 2021
Email to employees:
First Midwest partnership update
On Tuesday, Old National made the most significant investment in the history of our organization when we announced our intent to partner with First Midwest Bank. I’m using the word investment very intentionally here because that’s precisely what this merger of equals is: two strong, well-respected institutions coming together and investing in one another and our collective future.
As Jim Sandgren, Kendra Vanzo and I shared in our Tuesday morning call, this partnership will make Old National the 6th largest bank headquartered in the Midwest. It will also accelerate our current investments in talent and technology while giving us the additional capital (or as First Midwest CEO Mike Scudder likes to call it, “gas in the tank”) to serve our clients and communities even better.
Since the announcement, I’ve had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time in Chicago – along with other members of our Leadership team – to meet and interact with First Midwest colleagues. What we have encountered, in every instance, is excitement, energy and a real sense of optimism about what we can and will accomplish together. Yes, there is some uncertainty about what the future will look like as we bring our organizations together. But that is trumped by the understanding that we are two community banks with strikingly similar cultures and approaches to serving clients. It truly is a perfect fit.
A little later this afternoon, you will receive an email from Kendra that outlines next steps in the integration process. A big thanks to her for agreeing to lead our partnership integration efforts along with First Midwest’s Chief Risk Officer Jeff Newcom. And thank you in advance to all of you who will be pitching in and working together to ensure this is the smoothest and most successful integration in our history.
Beginning next week, members of the First Midwest Leadership team – including CEO Mike Scudder and President and COO Mark Sander – will join ONB Leadership for a round of Old National market visits. For those of you who will have the opportunity to meet Mike, Mark and other First Midwest leaders, I’m confident you will feel like you’re speaking with long-time members of the ONB team. They really are that similar to us in the way they approach serving clients and supporting team members and communities.
Speaking of similarities, I’ll close today’s email by sharing essentially the same thoughts I shared with all First Midwest colleagues earlier today on a Town Hall call:
• | First and foremost, thank you! Thanks for all your hard work and passion, which has put us in this enviable position. And thanks in advance for all the great work I know you will do in the months ahead to ensure a successful integration. |
• | Everyone together! I introduced this mantra to our First Midwest colleagues and explained that it has served us very well throughout the pandemic. I’m confident it’s an approach that will guide us all forward as we strive to become THE premier bank in the Midwest. |
Thanks once again for all you do to make Old National a bank that is poised for historic growth. If you have questions or suggestions, don’t ever hesitate to reach out to me or any other ONB leader. And please have a safe and relaxing weekend.
Everyone Together!
Jim
JIM RYAN | CHAIRMAN & CEO
t: 812-465-7262
Jim.Ryan@oldnational.com
Old National Bancorp
One Main Street | Evansville, IN 47708
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to First Midwest’s and Old National’s beliefs, goals, intentions, and expectations regarding the proposed transaction, revenues, earnings, loan production, asset quality, and capital levels, among other matters; our estimates of future costs and benefits of the actions we may take; our assessments of probable losses on loans; our assessments of interest rate and other market risks; our ability to achieve our financial and other strategic goals; the expected timing of completion of the proposed transaction; the expected cost savings, synergies and other anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction; and other statements that are not historical facts.
Forward‐looking statements are typically identified by such words as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “should,” “will,” and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the terms, timing and closing of the proposed transaction.
Additionally, forward‐looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; First Midwest and Old National do not assume any duty, and do not undertake, to update such forward‐looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Furthermore, because forward‐looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those indicated in such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of First Midwest and Old National. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of First Midwest and Old National and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of the control of the parties. Caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the following: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between First Midwest and Old National; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against First Midwest or Old National; the possibility that the proposed transaction will not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals are not received or other conditions to the closing are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all, or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated (and the risk that required regulatory approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction); the ability of First Midwest and Old National to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the common stock of either or both parties to the proposed transaction; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be 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 First Midwest and Old National do business; certain restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction that may impact the parties’ ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; 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; the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the merger within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate First Midwest’s operations and those of Old National; such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the proposed transaction may be lower than expected; First Midwest’s and Old National’s success in executing their respective business plans and strategies and managing the risks involved in the foregoing; the dilution caused by Old National’s issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed transaction; effects of the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed transaction on the ability of First Midwest and Old National to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; risks related to the potential impact of general economic, political and market factors on the companies or the proposed transaction and other factors that may affect future results of First Midwest and Old National; uncertainty as to the extent of the duration, scope, and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on First Midwest, Old National and the proposed transaction; and the other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of each of First Midwest’s and Old National’s Annual Report on Form 10‐K for the year ended December 31, 2020, in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of each of First Midwest’s and Old National’s Quarterly Report on Form 10‐Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, and in other reports First Midwest and Old National file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, Old National will file a registration statement on Form S‑4 with the SEC. The registration statement will include a joint proxy statement of First Midwest and Old National, which also constitutes a prospectus of Old National, that will be sent to First Midwest’s and Old National’s shareholders seeking certain approvals related to the proposed transaction.
The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, 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 any such jurisdiction. Investors and security holders of First Midwest or Old National and their respective affiliates are urged to read, when available, the registration statement on form S-4, the joint proxy statement/prospectus to be included within the registration statement on Form s-4 and any other relevant documents filed or to be filed with the sec in connection with the proposed transaction, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information about First Midwest, Old National and the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain a free copy of the registration statement, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC containing information about First Midwest and Old National, without charge, at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of documents filed with the SEC by First Midwest will be made available free of charge in the “Investor Relations” section of First Midwest’s website, https://firstmidwest.com/, under the heading “SEC Filings.” Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Old National will be made available free of charge in the “Investor Relations” section of Old National’s website, https://www.oldnational.com/, under the heading “Financial Information.”
Participants in Solicitation
First Midwest, Old National, and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information regarding First Midwest’s directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 13, 2021, and certain other documents filed by First Midwest with the SEC. Information regarding Old National’s directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021, and certain other documents filed by Old National with the SEC. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC. Free copies of these documents, when available, may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.