SEC Form 425 filed by Independent Bank Group Inc

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UNITED STATES

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

July 29, 2024

Independent Bank Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

7777 Henneman Way

McKinney, TX 75070-1711

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

(972) 562-9004

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☒

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (Sec.230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Sec.240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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Item 8.01.

As previously reported, on May 20, 2024, IBTX and SouthState Corporation (“SouthState”) announced the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 17, 2024 (the “Merger Agreement”), providing that, among other things and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, SouthState will acquire IBTX in an all-stock transaction by means of a merger of IBTX with and into SouthState (the ”Merger”) with SouthState surviving the Merger.

(d)  Exhibits

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Current Report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other related federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, including information about Independent Bank Group, Inc.’s (“IBTX”), SouthState Corporation’s (“SouthState”) or the combined company’s possible or assumed future results of operations, including its future revenues, income, expenses, provision for taxes, effective tax rate, earnings (loss) per share and cash flows, its future capital expenditures and dividends, its future financial condition and changes therein, including changes in IBTX’s, SouthState’s or the combined company’s loan portfolio and allowance for credit losses, IBTX’s, SouthState’s or the combined company’s future capital structure or changes therein, the plan and objectives of management for future operations, IBTX’s, SouthState’s or the combined company’s future or proposed acquisitions, the future or expected effect of acquisitions on IBTX’s, SouthState’s or the combined company’s operations, results of operations and financial condition, IBTX’s, SouthState’s or the combined company’s future economic performance and the statements of the assumptions underlying any such statement. Such statements are typically, but not exclusively, identified by the use in the statements of words or phrases such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “is anticipated,” “is estimated,” “is expected,” “is intended,” “objective,” “plan,” “projected,” “projection,” “will affect,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will decrease,” “will grow,” “will impact,” “will increase,” “will incur,” “will reduce,” “will remain,” “will result,” “would be,” variations of such words or phrases (including where the word “could,” “may” or “would” is used rather than the word “will” in a phrase) and similar words and phrases indicating that the statement addresses some future result, occurrence, plan or objective. The forward-looking statements that IBTX and SouthState make are based on their current plans, estimates, expectations, ambitions and assumptions regarding IBTX’s, SouthState’s and the combined company’s business, the economy and other future conditions.

Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of IBTX and SouthState. IBTX’s, SouthState’s and the combined company’s actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Many possible events or factors could affect IBTX’s, SouthState’s and the combined company’s future financial results and performance and could cause those results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. In addition to factors previously disclosed in IBTX’s and SouthState’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between IBTX and SouthState providing for the acquisition of IBTX by SouthState (the “Transaction”); (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against IBTX or SouthState; (3) the possibility that the Transaction does not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Transaction); (4) the risk that the benefits from the Transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in, or problems arising from, general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which IBTX and SouthState operate; (5) disruption to the parties’ businesses as a result of the announcement and pendency of the Transaction; (6) the risk that the integration of each party’s operations will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected or that the parties are otherwise unable to successfully integrate each party’s businesses into the other’s businesses; (7) the possibility that the Transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (8) reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of IBTX’s or SouthState’s customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the Transaction; (9) the dilution caused by SouthState’s issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the Transaction; (10) a material adverse change in the financial condition of SouthState or IBTX; (11) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions; (12) major catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods or other natural or human disasters, including infectious disease outbreaks; (13) the diversion of management’s attention and time from ongoing business operations and opportunities on merger-related matters; and (14) other factors that may affect future results of IBTX and SouthState including changes in asset quality and credit risk, the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth, changes in interest rates and capital markets, inflation, customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices, the impact, extent and timing of technological changes, capital management activities and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.

These factors are not necessarily all of the factors that could cause IBTX’s, SouthState’s or the combined company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements. Other factors, including unknown or unpredictable factors, also could harm IBTX’s, SouthState’s or the combined company’s results.

IBTX and SouthState urge you to consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating all such forward-looking statements made by IBTX and/or SouthState. As a result of these and other matters, including changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other factors, the actual results relating to the subject matter of any forward-looking statement may differ materially from the anticipated results expressed or implied in that forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement made in this Current Report speaks only as of the date on which it is made. IBTX and SouthState undertake no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. A forward-looking statement may include a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statement. IBTX and SouthState believe that these assumptions or bases have been chosen in good faith and that they are reasonable. However, IBTX and SouthState caution you that assumptions as to future occurrences or results almost always vary from actual future occurrences or results, and the differences between assumptions and actual occurrences and results can be material. Therefore, IBTX and SouthState caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this filing or incorporated by reference herein.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION AND WHERE TO FIND IT

SouthState has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC to register the shares of SouthState’s common stock that will be issued to IBTX shareholders in connection with the Transaction. The Registration Statement contains a joint proxy statement of SouthState and IBTX that also constitutes a prospectus of SouthState.  The Registration Statement on Form S-4, as amended, was declared effective by the SEC on July 16, 2024, and on July 16, 2024, IBTX and SouthState each filed the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus with the SEC. SouthState and IBTX commenced mailing the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective shareholders on or about July 16, 2024.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, AS AMENDED, AND THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, AS AMENDED, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING SOUTHSTATE, IBTX, THE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by IBTX or SouthState through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or from SouthState at its website, https://southstatecorporation.q4ir.com, or from IBTX at its website, https://ir.ifinancial.com. Documents filed with the SEC by SouthState will be available free of charge by accessing the “SEC Filings” tab of SouthState’s website at https://southstatecorporation.q4ir.com, or alternatively by directing a request by mail to SouthState’s Corporate Secretary, 1101 First Street South, Suite 202, Winter Haven, FL 33880, and documents filed with the SEC by IBTX will be available free of charge by accessing IBTX’s website at https://ir.ifinancial.com under the “SEC Filings” tab or, alternatively, by directing a request by mail to IBTX’s Corporate Secretary, 7777 Henneman Way, McKinney, TX 75070-1711.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

IBTX, SouthState and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of IBTX and SouthState in connection with the Transaction under the rules of the SEC.

SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

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