SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 APRIL 25, 1997 (Date of earliest event reported) Gateway Bancorp, Inc. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) KENTUCKY 0-25204 61-1269067 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer of incorporation) Identification No.) 2717 LOUISA STREET, CATLETTSBURG, KENTUCKY 41129 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (606) 739-4126 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) NOT APPLICABLE (Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) Exhibit Index appears on page 6. ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On April 25, 1997, Gateway Bancorp, Inc. ("Gateway"), a Kentucky corporation headquartered in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, and Peoples Bancorp, Inc. ("Peoples"), an Ohio corporation headquartered in Marietta, Ohio, signed a letter of intent ("Letter of Intent") providing for the acquisition by Peoples of Gateway and its wholly-owned savings bank subsidiary, Catlettsburg Federal Savings Bank. In the proposed transaction, Peoples proposes to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Gateway common stock for a purchase price of $6.00 per share in cash plus a number of shares of the common stock of Peoples, which will result in an aggregate purchase price of $18.75 (the "Purchase Price"). Based on the closing price of the Peoples common stock on April 24, 1997, the stockholders of Gateway would receive .40 shares of Peoples common stock. The aggregate Purchase Price for the proposed transaction, exclusive of payment for Gateway stock options, is $20,170,388. The transaction is subject to Peoples' receipt of permission from the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") to enter into a definitive agreement with Gateway, which permission has been requested. The definitive agreement is expected to provide the Gateway stockholders with an election to receive all cash, all Peoples common stock or a combination of both, provided, however, that not more than 68% of the aggregate Purchase Price shall be paid in Peoples common stock. The definitive agreement will provide for a method of allocation in the event that Gateway stockholders elect to receive either more than 32% of the aggregate Purchase Price in cash or more than 68% of the aggregate Purchase Prince in Peoples common stock. All outstanding options to purchase Gateway common stock will be extinguished at the closing of the proposed transaction, with the consideration paid to the optionee (based on the difference between the Purchase Price per share of Gateway common stock and the applicable exercise price thereof) be paid by Peoples to each optionee 32% in cash and 68% in Peoples common stock. The aggregate Purchase Price for payment of the consideration for the Gateway stock options is approximately $383,250. Gateway will continue to operate under its present name as a subsidiary of Peoples with its present board of directors and management. Consummation of the merger is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Gateway and the appropriate Federal regulators, as well as other customary conditions. The Letter of Intent and the press release issued by Gateway and Peoples on April 25, 1997 regarding the Merger are attached as exhibits to this report and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing summary of the Letter of Intent does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such letter. ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS The following exhibits are filed with this report: EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION 2 Letter of Intent, dated as of April 25, 1997, between Gateway and Peoples 20 Press Release issued on April 25, 1997 with respect to the Letter of Intent SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. GATEWAY BANCORP, INC. Date: May 1, 1997 By: /S/ REBECCA R. JACKSON ---------------------- Rebecca R. Jackson President and Chief Executive Officer EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION 2 Letter of Intent, dated as of April 25, 1997, between Gateway and Peoples 20 Press Release issued on April 25, 1997 with respect to the Letter of Intent Exhibit 2 Letter of Intent dated as of April 25, 1997, between Gateway and Peoples Exhibit 20 Press Release issued on April 25, 1997 with repect to the Letter of Intent