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Exhibit 99.4
CITIZENS BANKING CORPORATION
BOARD QUESTION AND ANSWER GUIDE
We are pleased to announce that Citizens Banking Corporation and Republic
Bancorp have signed an agreement under which Republic will merge into Citizens.
The new entity will be called Citizens Republic Bancorp. Pending shareholder and
regulatory approval the merger is expected to close late in the 4th quarter of
2006.
CITIZENS REPUBLIC BANCORP
"A LEADING MIDWESTERN FRANCHISE"
KEY POINTS
- -45th largest bank holding company in the US
- -$13.9 billion in assets
- -275 branch locations in 5 Midwest states (MI, WI, IA, IN, OH)
- -The #1 SBA bank lender in Michigan
- -Almost 5% of the total deposits in Michigan
- -An expanded presence in Southeast Michigan and other high growth markets
- -Over 3,000 employees
- -Recognized as an Employer of Choice
Q. WHO IS REPUBLIC BANCORP AND WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?
A. Republic Bancorp is currently the 3rd largest bank holding company
headquartered in Michigan with over $6.2 billion in assets and currently
ranks as the 80th largest bank holding company in the United States and
employs over 1,000 people. Its subsidiary Republic Bank has 92 retail
branches located in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Republic serves three
primary business lines in retail, commercial and mortgage. Republic Bancorp
common stock trades on NASDAQ under the symbol RBNC. Republic was recently
ranked by FORTUNE magazine as the 17th best company to work for in America.
This is its sixth year listed on FORTUNE'S "100 Best Companies to Work
For." Republic has also been named to WORKING MOTHER magazine's list of
"100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" for the fifth year in a row. More
information about Republic Bancorp is available at
http://www.republicbancorp.com.
Q. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE MERGER FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS?
A. Citizens Republic Bancorp will represent a strong regional brand better
positioned to compete with super-regional as well as community banks. The
existing corporate cultures and strategies for both companies are very
compatible. Both teams are committed to a strong sales and service
philosophy which will lead to future growth and enhanced shareholder value.
Citizens Republic Bancorp will provide a full complement of commercial,
wealth management, and specialty lending products to Republic customers,
as well as enhance SBA, commercial real estate and mortgage banking
services for Citizens customers through 275 branch and loan production
offices. This partnership will increase our Southeast Michigan presence to
39 locations. Citizens Republic Bancorp will have almost 5% of the total
deposits in Michigan, with over 35% of its deposits in high growth
markets.
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Q. WHO WILL MANAGE THE NEW BANK?
A. The management team for Citizens Republic Bancorp will be committed to
sharing the best practices of both organizations to assure we remain a
competitive financial force in the Midwest. JERRY CAMPBELL, current
Chairman of Republic Bancorp will serve as Chairman of the Board of the
new Citizens Republic Bancorp until year end 2007. BILL HARTMAN,
Chairman, President and CEO of Citizens Banking Corporation will assume
the position of CEO of Citizens Republic Bancorp immediately, and then
succeed Jerry Campbell as Chairman until year end 2012. DANA CLUCKEY,
President and CEO of Republic Bancorp will serve as President and Chief
Operating Officer of Citizens Republic Bancorp. Beginning in 2011,
Dana Cluckey will succeed Bill Hartman as CEO and President of Citizens
Republic Bancorp.
Q. WHO WILL SERVE ON THE BOARD OF THE NEW BANK?
A. After the merger, the Citizens Republic Bancorp Board of Directors will be
comprised of 9 current Citizens Banking Corporation Directors and 7
current Republic Directors. Jerry Campbell, Chairman of Republic Bancorp,
Bill Hartman, Chairman, President and CEO of Citizens Banking Corporation
and Dana Cluckey, President and CEO of Republic Bancorp will serve on the
new board.
Q: WILL WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ADVISORY BOARDS?
A: Yes, Advisory Boards will continue to be an integral part of our
strategy as we serve our local communities.
Q. HOW WILL EMPLOYEES BE AFFECTED BY THIS MERGER?
A. A transition team comprised of both Citizens and Republic employees will
be formed immediately to evaluate products, processes and best practices
inherent to each organization. TOM MENACHER, Executive Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Republic Bancorp will lead the
integration efforts of the new organization. Until integration efforts are
approved, day to day and major corporate initiatives will continue. You
will be notified of any changes in advance.
We anticipate there will be many new and exciting opportunities for our
top performing employees. There will be some overlap in departments,
functions and branches common to each bank which will result in staff
reductions. Efforts will be made to accommodate staff reductions through
normal attrition and open positions.
Q. WILL WE SELL OR CLOSE BRANCH OFFICES?
A: We will evaluate all of our markets to ensure that we have proper branch
coverage to service our customers. Branch divestitures in some of our
markets may be required by the regulators. All of this will likely result
in some consolidation and closures of branches but it is too early for us
to speculate on specific details.
Q: IF I OWN REPUBLIC STOCK, HOW DOES THIS TRANSACTION AFFECT ME?
A: Republic shareholders will have the right to receive either Citizens
Banking Corporation common stock, cash, or a combination of stock and cash
subject to certain limitations in exchange for their shares of Republic
stock. For specific information on the alternatives available to Republic
shareholders, please refer to the press release.
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Q. ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON BUYING CITIZENS BANKING CORPORATION OR
REPUBLIC BANCORP STOCK?
A. Generally, there are no restrictions following the announcement of the
merger. However, certain persons may be subject to additional
restrictions, and those individuals will be separately notified.
Q. WHAT IS THE TIMETABLE FOR THE CHANGE?
A. We hope to have the transaction finalized late in the 4th quarter of 2006
following the necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals. System
conversions are expected to occur in the first quarter of 2007.
Q. WILL YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES?
A. We are dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities we
serve. We will continue our support of the communities in which our
customers and associates work and live.
CITIZENS BANKING CORPORATION COMPANY PROFILE
Citizens Banking Corporation is currently the 2nd largest bank holding company
headquartered in Michigan and employs over 2,100 people. Citizens is a
diversified financial services company providing a wide range of commercial,
consumer, mortgage, trust, and financial planning services to a broad client
base. Citizens Banking Corporation serves markets through Citizens Bank offices
in Michigan and Wisconsin, and through F&M Bank offices in Iowa. Citizens
Banking Corporation has roots going back to 1871 in Flint, Michigan. Citizens is
currently the 64th largest bank holding company in the United States, with
assets of $7.7 billion as of March 31, 2006. Citizens Banking Corporation common
stock trades on the NASDAQ under the symbol CBCF. More information about
Citizens Banking Corporation is available at http://www.citizensonline.com.
WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE FOUND THIS INFORMATION HELPFUL. HOWEVER, THIS Q&A IS ONLY
A SUMMARY. IF THERE IS ANY CONFLICT BETWEEN THIS INFORMATION AND THE OFFICIAL
PLAN DOCUMENTS RELATING TO ANY BENEFIT PLAN REFERRED TO HEREIN, THE TERMS OF THE
PLAN DOCUMENTS WILL GOVERN. ALSO, AS ALWAYS, CITIZENS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
INTERPRET, MODIFY OR TERMINATE ITS PLANS AND POLICIES AT ANY TIME.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Discussions in this release that are not statements of historical fact
(including statements that include terms such as "will," "may," "should,"
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," and "plan") are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Any
forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and actual
results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking
information. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements about the benefits of the business combination transaction involving
Citizens and Republic, including future financial and operating results, the new
company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements
that are not historical facts.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from
those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the ability to obtain
regulatory approvals of the transaction on the proposed terms and schedule; the
failure of Citizens or Republic shareholders to approve the transaction; the
risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; deposit attrition
and disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain
relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; the risk that the cost
savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized
or may take longer to realize than expected; competition and its effect on
pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; movements in market
interest rates and secondary market volatility; divestitures assumed and/or
required; potential conditions that may affect the tax-free status of the
Republic stock exchange for Citizens' common shares; and unfavorable changes in
economic and business conditions or the regulatory environment. Additional
factors that may affect future results are contained in Citizens' and Republic's
filings with the SEC, which are available at the SEC's web site
http://www.sec.gov. Citizens and Republic disclaim any obligation to update and
revise statements contained in these materials based on new information or
otherwise.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In connection with the proposed merger, Citizens and Republic will file a joint
proxy statement/prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the joint
proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed by
Citizens and Republic with the SEC at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Free copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and each
company's other filings with the SEC may also be obtained by accessing Citizens'
website at http://www.citizensonline.com under the Investor Relations section or
by accessing Republic's website at http://www.republicbancorp.com under the
Investor Relations section.
Citizens and Republic and their respective directors, executive officers and
other members of their management may be soliciting proxies from their
respective shareholders in favor of the merger. Information concerning persons
who may be considered participants in the solicitation of Citizens' shareholders
under the rules of the SEC is set forth in the Proxy Statement filed by Citizens
with the SEC on March 22, 2006, and information concerning persons who may be
considered participants in the solicitation of Republic's shareholders under the
rules of the SEC is set forth in the Proxy Statement filed by Republic with the
SEC on March 14, 2006. Additional information regarding the interests of those
participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction
may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the
proposed merger when it becomes available. You may obtain free copies of these
documents as described above.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any
jurisdiction in which such solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the
registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
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