The information in this joint proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to the securities described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be issued until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This joint proxy statement/prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION—DATED JUNE 29, 2021
To the Shareholders of Old National Bancorp and the Stockholders of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.
MERGER PROPOSED—YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
On behalf of the boards of directors of Old National Bancorp (“Old National”) and First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (“First Midwest”), we are pleased to enclose the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to the merger of equals of Old National and First Midwest. We are requesting that you take certain actions as a holder of Old National common stock (an “Old National shareholder” or “shareholder”) or as a holder of First Midwest common stock (a “First Midwest stockholder” or “stockholder”).
On May 30, 2021, Old National and First Midwest entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “merger agreement”), pursuant to which Old National and First Midwest have agreed to combine their respective businesses in a merger of equals. The transaction will create a premier Midwest banking organization with approximately $45 billion in total assets and $34 billion in total deposits, operating through locations spanning Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Under the merger agreement, Old National and First Midwest will merge (the “merger”), with Old National as the surviving entity. Following the merger, First Midwest Bank, an Illinois state-charted bank and a wholly owned subsidiary of First Midwest (“First Midwest Bank”), and Old National Bank, a national banking association and a wholly owned subsidiary of Old National (“Old National Bank”), will merge (the “bank merger,” and together with the merger, the “mergers”), with Old National Bank as the surviving bank.
In the merger, First Midwest stockholders will receive 1.1336 shares of Old National common stock for each share of First Midwest common stock they own. Based on the closing price of Old National’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on May 28, 2021, the last trading day before the public announcement of the merger, the exchange ratio represented approximately $21.60 in value for each share of First Midwest common stock, representing a merger consideration of approximately $2.5 billion on an aggregate basis.
Old National shareholders will continue to own their existing shares of Old National common stock. The value of the Old National common stock at the time of completion of the merger could be greater than, less than or the same as the value of Old National common stock on the date of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus. We urge you to obtain current market quotations of Old National common stock (NASDAQ trading symbol “ONB”) and First Midwest common stock (NASDAQ trading symbol “FMBI”).
In addition, each share of 7.000% Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, no par value per share, of First Midwest outstanding (the “First Midwest series A preferred stock”) and each share of 7.000% Fixed Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, no par value per share, of First Midwest outstanding (the “First Midwest series C preferred stock,” and together with First Midwest series A preferred stock, the “First Midwest preferred stock”) will be converted, respectively, into the right to receive one (1) share of a newly created series A and series C of preferred stock of Old National having terms that are not materially less favorable than the corresponding series of the First Midwest preferred stock (the “Old National series A preferred stock” and “Old National series C preferred stock,” respectively, and collectively, the “new Old National preferred stock”). Likewise, following the completion of the merger, each outstanding First Midwest depositary share representing a 1/40th interest in a share of the applicable series of First Midwest preferred stock will become an Old National depositary share and will represent a 1/40th interest in a share of the applicable series of the new Old National preferred stock. The depositary shares representing a 1/40th interest in a share of First Midwest Series A preferred stock and the depositary shares representing a 1/40th interest in a share of First Midwest Series C preferred stock are currently listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “FMBIP” and “FMBIO,” respectively. The depositary shares representing a 1/40th interest in a share of Old National series A preferred stock and Old National series C preferred stock are expected to be listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market upon completion of the merger.
We expect the merger will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Accordingly, First Midwest stockholders or holders of First Midwest preferred stock generally will not recognize any gain or loss for federal income tax purposes on the exchange of shares of First Midwest common stock or First Midwest preferred stock, as applicable, for Old National common stock or new Old National preferred stock, as applicable, in the merger, except with respect to any cash received by holders of First Midwest common stock in lieu of fractional shares of Old National common stock.
Based on the number of shares of First Midwest common stock outstanding or reserved for issuance as of [ ], 2021, Old National expects to issue approximately [ ] million shares of Old National common stock to First Midwest stockholders in the aggregate in the merger. We estimate that former First Midwest stockholders will own approximately forty-four percent (44%) and existing Old National shareholders will own approximately fifty-six percent (56%) of the common stock of Old National following the completion of the merger.
Old National and First Midwest will each hold a special meeting of our respective shareholders and stockholders in connection with the merger. At our respective special meetings, in addition to other business, Old National will ask its shareholders to approve and adopt the merger agreement and an amendment to Old National’s articles of incorporation to effect an increase in the number of authorized shares of Old National’s common stock, and First Midwest will ask its stockholders to approve and adopt the merger agreement and a proposal to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, certain merger-related compensation payments to First Midwest's named executive officers in connection with the merger. Information about these meetings and the merger is contained in this document. We urge you to read this document carefully and in its entirety.
Holders of First Midwest preferred stock and holders of depositary shares representing interests in the shares of First Midwest preferred stock are not entitled to and are not requested to vote at the First Midwest special meeting.
The special meeting of First Midwest stockholders is currently expected to be held virtually via the internet on [ ], 2021 at [ ], Central Time. The special meeting of Old National shareholders is currently expected to be held virtually via the internet on [ ], 2021 at [ ], Central Time.
Each of our boards of directors unanimously recommends that holders of common stock vote “FOR” each of the proposals to be considered at the respective meetings. We strongly support this combination of our companies and join our boards in their recommendations.
This joint proxy statement/prospectus provides you with detailed information about the merger agreement and the merger. It also contains or references information about Old National and First Midwest and certain related matters. You are encouraged to read this joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully. In particular, you should read the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page
29 for a discussion of the risks you should consider in evaluating the proposed merger and how it will affect you. You can also obtain information about Old National and First Midwest from documents that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated into this joint proxy statement/prospectus by reference.
On behalf of the Old National and First Midwest boards of directors, thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | James C. Ryan, III | | | | | | Michael L. Scudder |
| | | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
Old National Bancorp | | | | | | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer
First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued in connection with the merger or determined if this document is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The securities to be issued in the merger are not savings or deposit accounts or other obligations of any bank or non-bank subsidiary of either Old National or First Midwest, and they are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
The accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated [ ], 2021, and is first being mailed to holders of Old National common stock and holders of First Midwest common stock on or about [ ], 2021.