Sterling Bancorp Inc. filed SEC Form 8-K: Regulation FD Disclosure, Financial Statements and Exhibits
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Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On September 15, 2024, Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company” or “Sterling”) entered into a definitive Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) by and among the Company, Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B. (the “Bank”) and EverBank Financial Corp, a Delaware corporation (“EverBank”).
The Purchase Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, EverBank will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank from the Company for a fixed purchase price of $261,000,000 to be paid to the Company. Following the completion of the sale of the Bank’s capital stock to EverBank, EverBank will cause the Bank to merge with and into EverBank, National Association, the bank subsidiary of EverBank, with EverBank, National Association, as the surviving bank and, following the bank merger, the separate corporate existence of the Bank will cease. As a condition to entering into the Purchase Agreement, the Bank entered into a definitive Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement (the “Loan Sale Agreement”) with Bayview Acquisitions LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Bayview”), which provides for the sale to Bayview of all of the Bank’s residential tenant-in-common mortgage loans. The closing of the loan sale is to occur immediately prior to the closing of the sale of the Bank.
On September 15, 2024, the board of directors of the Company also unanimously approved a plan of dissolution (the “Plan of Dissolution”), which provides for the dissolution of the Company under Michigan law, subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders.
In connection with the announcement of the Purchase Agreement, the Loan Sale Agreement and the Plan of Dissolution, the Company issued a press release, dated September 16, 2024. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
On September 16, 2024, the Company provided investors with questions and answers regarding the Purchase Agreement and Plan of Dissolution. A copy of the questions and answers is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference.
On September 16, 2024, the Company provided its employees with questions and answers regarding the Purchase Agreement and Plan of Dissolution. A copy of the questions and answers is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3 and incorporated herein by reference.
The information provided in Item 7.01 of this Current Report, including Exhibit 99.1, Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| No. | Description | |
| 99.1 | Company press release dated September 16, 2024 | |
| 99.2 | Questions and Answers for investors | |
| 99.3 | Questions and Answers for employees | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File. The cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document (contained in Exhibit 101) |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains certain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” regarding the Company’s plans, expectations, thoughts, beliefs, estimates, goals and outlook for the future. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance, including any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “could,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “will,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” and “would” or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature, though the absence of these words does not mean a statement is not forward-looking. All statements other than statements of historical facts, including but not limited to statements regarding the economy and financial markets, government investigations, credit quality, the regulatory scheme governing our industry, competition in our industry, interest rates, our liquidity, our business and our governance, are forward-looking statements. We have based the forward-looking statements in this Current Report primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and they are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, uncertainties and other factors detailed from time to time in our public filings, including those included in the disclosures under the headings “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2024, subsequent periodic reports and future periodic reports, could affect future results and events, causing those results and events to differ materially from those views expressed or implied in the Company’s forward-looking statements. These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this Current Report and our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission include additional factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report. Should one or more of the foregoing risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those projected in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, revise, or correct any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information or otherwise.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transactions, Sterling intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a proxy statement on Schedule 14A.
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. SHAREHOLDERS OF STERLING ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING STERLING’S PROXY STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT STERLING AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
Investors and shareholders of Sterling will be able to obtain a free copy of the proxy statement as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC without charge at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the proxy statement and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the proxy statement can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to One Towne Square, Suite 1900, Southfield, Michigan 48076, Attn: Shareholder Relations Department, (248) 355-2400.
Participants in the Solicitation
Sterling and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transactions under the rules of the SEC. Information regarding Sterling’s directors and executive officers is available in the proxy statement for its 2024 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 4, 2024, and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transactions and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC. Free copies of these documents, when available, may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Sterling Bancorp, Inc. | |||
| By: |
/s/ Karen Knott | ||
| Karen Knott | |||
| Chief Financial Officer | |||
Date: September 16, 2024