Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to the shares of First National common stock to be issued in the merger has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This joint proxy statement/prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is not permitted or would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
PRELIMINARY JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
DATED APRIL 23, 2021, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
MERGER PROPOSED—YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
[•], 2021
To the Shareholders of First National Corporation and The Bank of Fincastle:
On February 18, 2021, First National Corporation, which we refer to as First National, First Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of First National, which we refer to as First Bank, and The Bank of Fincastle, which we refer to as Fincastle, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, which we refer to as the merger agreement, pursuant to which Fincastle will merge with and into First Bank, with First Bank as the surviving bank, in a transaction that we refer to as the merger.
If the merger is completed, each outstanding share of Fincastle common stock, par value $0.04 per share, which we refer to as Fincastle common stock, except for treasury stock or shares owned by Fincastle or First National, in each case, other than in a fiduciary or agency capacity or as a result of debts previously contracted, will be converted into the right to receive, without interest, one of the following: (i) $3.30 in cash, (ii) 0.1649 shares of First National common stock, par value $1.25 per share, which we refer to as First National common stock, or (iii) a combination of cash and First National common stock. Fincastle shareholders will have the right to elect the form of consideration paid, subject to the limitations that 80% of Fincastle’s outstanding shares of common stock will be exchanged for First National common stock and 20% of Fincastle’s outstanding shares of common stock will be exchanged for cash consideration. If Fincastle shareholders elect for more than 20% of Fincastle’s outstanding shares of common stock to be exchanged for cash consideration, First National has the unilateral right to increase the amount of cash paid up to 22% of Fincastle’s outstanding shares of common stock and proportionally decrease the amount of First National common stock issued. The value of the merger consideration will depend on the market price of First National common stock on the effective date of the merger.
First National common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market, or NASDAQ, under the symbol “FXNC.” Fincastle common stock is quoted on the OTC Pink Open Market under the trading symbol “BFTL.” Following the merger, the common stock of the combined company will be listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “FXNC.”
Based on the closing price of First National common stock on NASDAQ, on February 17, 2021, the last trading day before public announcement of the merger, of $18.40, the value of the per share merger consideration payable to holders of Fincastle common stock (assuming an 80/20 stock-cash mixed election) would be approximately $3.09. Based on the closing price of First National common stock on NASDAQ on April 22, 2021, the last practicable trading date before the date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, of $18.18, the value of the per share merger consideration payable to holders of Fincastle common stock would be approximately $3.06. We urge you to obtain current market quotations for both First National common stock and Fincastle common stock.
Based on the number of shares of Fincastle common stock outstanding as of February 17, 2021 (assuming an 80/20 stock-cash mixed election), the total number of shares of First National common stock expected to be issued in connection with the merger is approximately 1,345,584. In addition, based on the number of outstanding shares of First National common stock and Fincastle common stock as of February 17, 2021, and based on the exchange ratio of 0.1649, it is expected that First National shareholders will hold approximately 78% and Fincastle shareholders will hold approximately 22% of the issued and outstanding shares of First National common stock immediately following the closing of the merger.
First National will hold a special meeting of its shareholders, which we refer to as the First National special meeting, on June 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. local time, exclusively online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FXNC2021SM, where the First National shareholders will be asked to vote on a proposal to approve the issuance of First National common stock to the shareholders of Fincastle common stock in connection with the merger pursuant to the merger agreement, which we refer to as the First National share issuance proposal. First National shareholders will be able to attend the First National special meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit your questions to management during the special meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FXNC2021SM and entering the 16-digit control number received with your proxy card.
Fincastle will hold a special meeting of its shareholders, which we refer to as the Fincastle special meeting, on June 16, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. local time, exclusively online at http://agm.issuerdirect.com/bftl, where the Fincastle shareholders will be asked to vote on a proposal to approve the merger agreement, which we refer to as the Fincastle merger proposal, and other related matters. Fincastle shareholders will be able to attend the Fincastle special meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit your questions to management during the special meeting by visiting http://agm.issuerdirect.com/bftl and entering the 8-digit control number received with your proxy card. The password for the special meeting is the 8-digit control number.
The merger cannot be completed unless, among other things, holders of two-thirds of the issued and outstanding shares of First National common stock vote to approve the First National share issuance proposal and holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of Fincastle common stock vote to approve the Fincastle merger proposal. First National and Fincastle are sending you this joint proxy statement/prospectus to ask you to vote in favor of these and other matters described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF FIRST NATIONAL COMMON STOCK OR FINCASTLE COMMON STOCK YOU OWN. To ensure your representation at the First National special meeting or Fincastle special meeting, as applicable, please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope or submit your proxy by telephone, by facsimile (for Fincastle shareholders only) or via the Internet, by following the instructions in the enclosed joint proxy statement/prospectus and on your proxy card. Please vote promptly whether or not you expect to virtually attend your meeting of shareholders. Submitting a proxy now will NOT prevent you from being able to vote live via the Internet at your meeting of shareholders. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you should instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote in accordance with the voting instruction form you receive from your broker, bank or other nominee.
The First National board of directors has unanimously (i) determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger, are in the best interests of First National and its shareholders, (ii) adopted the merger agreement and approved the execution and delivery of the merger agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger, and (iii) approved the issuance of shares of First National common stock in connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The First National board of directors unanimously recommends that First National shareholders vote “FOR” the First National share issuance proposal and “FOR” the other matters to be considered at the First National special meeting.
The Fincastle board of directors has unanimously (i) determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger, are in the best interests of Fincastle and its shareholders and (ii) adopted the merger agreement and approved the execution and delivery of the merger agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger. The Fincastle board of directors unanimously recommends that the Fincastle shareholders vote “FOR” the Fincastle merger proposal and “FOR” the other matters to be considered at the Fincastle special meeting.
This joint proxy statement/prospectus provides you with detailed information about the merger agreement and the merger. It also contains or references information about First National and Fincastle 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 33 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 First National from documents that have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated into this joint proxy statement/prospectus by reference.Sincerely, | | | |
Scott C. Harvard | | | C. Scott Steele |
President and Chief Executive Officer | | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
First National Corporation | | | The Bank of Fincastle |
Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the merger, the issuance of shares of First National common stock in connection with the merger or the other transactions described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The securities to be issued in connection with the merger are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank or savings association and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated [•], 2021, and is first being mailed to First National shareholders and Fincastle shareholders on or about [•], 2021.