THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. WE MAY NOT ISSUE THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
DATED [●], 2019, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
[Maple Leaf Logo]
MERGER PROPOSAL – YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
Farmers National Banc Corp. (“Farmers”), FMNB Merger Subsidiary III, LLC (“Merger Sub”) and Maple Leaf Financial, Inc. (“Maple Leaf”), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 29, 2019 (the “Merger Agreement”), which provides for the merger of Maple Leaf with and into Merger Sub, a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of Farmers (the “Merger”). Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to, obtaining the requisite vote of the shareholders of Maple Leaf and the approval of the Merger by various regulatory agencies. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached asAnnex B to this proxy statement/prospectus.
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, holders of shares of Maple Leaf common stock will be entitled to receive from Farmers, after the Merger is completed, merger consideration payable in the form of a combination of cash and Farmers common shares to be calculated as set forth in the Merger Agreement. At the effective time of the Merger, it is anticipated that each Maple Leaf common share will be converted into the right to receive either: (i) 45.5948 Farmers common shares, or (ii) $640.00 in cash, subject to certain allocation procedures set forth in the Merger Agreement intended to ensure that 50% of the outstanding Maple Leaf common stock are converted into the right to receive Farmers common shares and the remaining outstanding shares of Maple Leaf common stock are converted into the right to receive cash. In addition, the holders of outstanding and unexercised warrants to purchase shares of Maple Leaf common stock will be entitled to receive, in lieu of each share of Maple Leaf common stock for which the warrant otherwise could have been exercised, cash in an amount equal to $270.00. See “SUMMARY – What Maple Leaf stockholders will receive in the Merger.”
Farmers will not issue any fractional common shares in connection with the Merger. Instead, each holder of shares of Maple Leaf common stock who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fraction of a Farmers common share (after taking into account all Maple Leaf common stock owned by such holder at the effective time of the Merger) will receive cash, without interest, in an amount equal to the Farmers fractional common share to which such holder would otherwise be entitled, multiplied by the volume-weighted average, rounded to the nearest one tenth of a cent, of the closing sale prices of Farmers common shares based on information reported by NASDAQ Capital Market (the “NASDAQ”) for the five (5) trading days ending on the penultimate trading day preceding the effective time.
Maple Leaf will hold a special meeting of its common stockholders to vote on the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement. The special meeting of Maple Leaf’s common stockholders will be held at: [●], local time, on [●], [●], 2019, at , Beachwood, Ohio 44122.
At the special meeting, Maple Leaf’s common stockholders will be asked to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger. The common stockholders will also be asked to approve a proposal to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger and to elect 6 directors to the board of directors for a term of one year, subject to earlier termination upon the effective time of the Merger.
This document is a proxy statement of Maple Leaf that it is using to solicit proxies for use at the special meeting of common stockholders to vote on the Merger and elect directors. It is also a prospectus relating to Farmers’ issuance of its common shares in connection with the Merger. This proxy statement/prospectus describes Maple Leaf’s special meeting, the Merger proposal and other related matters. The solicitation will be by mail, telephone, and electronic means, the cost of which will be borne by Maple Leaf.
The board of directors of Maple Leaf has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and recommends that Maple Leaf’s common stockholders vote “FOR” the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the approval of the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in the event there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement. In addition, the board of directors recommends that the shareholders vote “FOR” the election of the 6 directors nominated in the proxy statement.
Farmers common shares are traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “FMNB.” On August 29, 2019, the date of execution of the Merger Agreement, the closing price of Farmers common shares was $13.73 per share. On [●], 2019, the closing price of Farmers common shares was $[●] per share.
You are encouraged to read this document, including the materials incorporated by reference into this document, carefully. In particular, you should read the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page [21] for a discussion of the risks related to the Merger and owning Farmers common shares after the Merger.
Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, you are urged to vote by completing, signing and returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
If you are a Maple Leaf common stockholder as of [●], 2019, the record date, and you do not vote your shares in favor of the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement, under the Ohio General Corporation Law (“OGCL”), you will have the right to demand the fair cash value for your shares of Maple Leaf common stock. To exercise your “dissenters’ rights,” you must adhere to the specific requirements of the OGCL; see “DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS” on page [●] of this proxy statement/prospectus and the complete text of the applicable sections of the OGCL attached to this proxy statement/prospectus asAnnex A. No holder of Farmers common shares is entitled to exercise any rights of a dissenting shareholder under the OGCL.
Not voting by proxy or at the special meeting will have the same effect as voting against the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement. We urge you to read carefully this proxy statement/prospectus, which contains a detailed description of the special meeting, the Merger proposal, Farmers common shares to be issued in the Merger and other related matters.
Sincerely,
James E. Kleinfelter
President & Chief Executive Officer
Maple Leaf Financial, Inc.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Farmers common shares to be issued in the Merger or determined if this proxy statement/prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The securities to be issued in connection with the Merger described in this proxy statement/prospectus are not savings accounts, deposit accounts or other obligations of any bank or savings association and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Deposit Insurance Fund or any other federal or state governmental agency.
This proxy statement/prospectus is dated [●], 2019, and it
is first being mailed to Maple Leaf common stockholders on or about [●], 2019.