BB&T, SunTrust Ink $66B
Merger
February 7,
2019
SunTrust
Banks BB&T have inked a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock
merger of equals valued at approximately $66 billion. The combined
company will be the sixth-largest U.S. bank based on assets and
deposits.
The pro forma company will have approximately $442 billion in assets,
$301 billion in loans, and $324 billion in deposits serving more than 10
million households in the United States, with leading market share in
many of the most attractive, high-growth markets in the country. The
incremental scale positions the new company to achieve industry-leading
financial and operating metrics with the strongest return profile among
its peers.
In a reflection of the equal contribution both banks bring to the new
institution, the combined company will operate under a new name and
brand, which will be determined prior to closing. The combined company's
board of directors and executive management team will be evenly split
between the two institutions. A new corporate headquarters will be
established in Charlotte, NC, including an Innovation and Technology
Center to drive digital transformation. In the current home markets for
both companies, the combined company will maintain the Community Banking
Center in Winston-Salem, NC and the Wholesale Banking Center in Atlanta,
GA. This continued strong presence is also supported by the combined
company's commitment to increase the respective banks' current levels of
community investment.
GAAP and Cash EPS accretion per BB&T share in 2021 is expected to be
approximately 13% and 17%, respectively (based on Street estimates).
GAAP and Cash EPS accretion per SunTrust share in 2021 is expected to be
approximately 9% and 16%, respectively (based on Street estimates).
SunTrust shareholders will receive a 5% increase in their dividend upon
consummation of the transaction based upon each Company's current
dividend per share. Under the terms of the merger agreement, SunTrust
shareholders will receive 1.295 shares of BB&T for each SunTrust share
they own. BB&T shareholders will own approximately 57% and SunTrust
shareholders will own approximately 43% of the combined company.
"This is a true merger of equals, combining the best of both companies
to create the premier financial institution of the future," said BB&T
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kelly S. King. "It's an
extraordinarily attractive financial proposition that provides the scale
needed to compete and win in the rapidly evolving world of financial
services. Together with Bill's leadership and our new SunTrust
teammates, we're going to bring the best of both companies forward to
serve our clients and communities."
William H. Rogers, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
SunTrust, said, "By bringing together these two mission- and
purpose-driven institutions, we will accelerate our capacity to invest
in transformational technologies for our clients. Our shared culture
embraces the disruption of technology and we will take this innovative
mindset to expand our leadership in the next chapter of these historic
brands. With our geographic position, enhanced scale and leading
financial profile, these two companies will achieve substantially more
for clients, teammates, associates, communities, and shareholders than
we could alone. I have tremendous respect for Kelly, his leadership team
and the BB&T associates. We will leverage our respective strengths as we
focus together on the future."
Strategic and Financial Benefits of the Proposed Merger
Strong Cultural Alignment: The combined company will preserve and
maintain the strong cultures of both BB&T and SunTrust to deliver
superior client service and preserve the community bank model to
maintain close ties to shared local communities. With its stronger
position, it will also deliver a collective set of training, leadership,
and development programs to attract and retain the industry's top talent
across its expanded career opportunities.
Leading Financial Profile and
Operating Metrics: The combined company will be well positioned to
achieve industry-leading financial and operating metrics with the
strongest return profile amongst its peers. The expected benefits of the
transaction include a pro forma efficiency ratio of 51%, peer best
ROATCE of 22% and projected tangible book value per share accretion at
close for BB&T shareholders of approximately 11%, or 6% fully accounting
for one-time merger charges. The merger is expected to generate an
internal rate of return of approximately 18%.
Increased Profitability and Scale
to Drive New Innovations: The combined company will take advantage of
its enhanced scale to focus on selecting best of breed systems and
processes and making significant investments in technology to create a
sustainable competitive advantage in an increasingly digital-first
world.
Revenue Growth Through Complementary Businesses: The combined company
will leverage its complementary businesses to generate additional
revenue opportunities through BB&T's Community Banking and insurance
operation and SunTrust's leading middle market corporate & investment
banking business and digital consumer lending platform.
Significant cost synergies:
Expected to deliver approximately $1.6 billion in annual net cost
synergies by 2022. The primary sources of cost savings are expected to
be in facilities, information technology/systems, shared services,
retail banking and third-party vendors.
New Company Leadership Team,
Succession Plan and Governance
Kelly S. King, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BB&T and its bank
subsidiary, will serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
combined company and its bank subsidiary until Sept. 12, 2021, after
which time he will serve as Executive Chairman of both entities until
March 12, 2022. King will continue to serve on the Board of Directors of
the combined company until the end of 2023.
William H. Rogers, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SunTrust
will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of the combined
company and its bank subsidiary until Sept. 12, 2021, at which time he
will become Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and its bank
subsidiary. He will also hold a seat on the combined company's Board of
Directors through his position as President and Chief Operating Officer
and then Chief Executive Officer. On March 12, 2022, Rogers will also
become Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and
its bank subsidiary.
Upon
the closing of the transaction, the Board of Directors of the combined
company will consist of members equally split between BB&T and
SunTrust's current Directors. David M. Ratcliffe, current Lead Director
of SunTrust, will serve as Lead Director of the combined company until
March 12, 2022 after which the Lead Director will be a legacy BB&T
Director.
The combined company's executive management team will be comprised
equally from SunTrust and BB&T. They include Chris Henson, Clarke
Starnes (Chief Risk Officer), Daryl Bible (Chief Financial Officer),
Allison Dukes, Brant Standridge, David Weaver, Dontá Wilson, Ellen
Fitzsimmons, Ellen Koebler, Hugh (Beau) Cummins, Joseph Thompson and
Scott Case.
Timing and Approvals
The merger is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019, subject
to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of
customary regulatory approvals and approval by the shareholders of each
company.
Advisors
RBC Capital Markets served as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton,
Rosen & Katz served as legal counsel to BB&T in this transaction.
Goldman Sachs and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey served as financial
advisors and Sullivan & Cromwell served as legal counsel to SunTrust in
this transaction. |