Synovus Financial Corp. and FCB Financial Holdings, Inc. today jointly announced their entry into a definitive merger agreement under which Synovus will acquire FCB Financial Holdings, Inc., owner of Florida Community Bank (FCB), Florida’s largest community bank. With the addition of FCB, Synovus will become a top five regional bank by deposits in the Southeast region with pro forma $36 billion in deposits and $44 billion in assets. The transaction is expected to close by the first quarter of 2019.

The combination of FCB with Synovus will create the largest mid-cap bank in the Southeast by deposits, and will elevate the company’s growth profile through a deepened presence in high-growth Florida markets. Following the closing, FCB will merge with Synovus Bank and operate under the Synovus brand, and FCB Financial Holdings President and CEO Kent Ellert will be executive vice president of Synovus and Florida market president.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, FCB shareholders will receive a fixed ratio of 1.055 shares of Synovus common stock for each common share of FCB in an all-stock transaction. Based on Synovus’ closing share price on July 23, 2018, the transaction is valued at $58.15 per FCB share or $2.9 billion in aggregate. Following completion of the merger, former FCB shareholders will own approximately 30% of the combined company. In addition, based on the exchange ratio, Synovus' most recent quarterly dividend translates to a pro forma annualized dividend of $1.06 per FCB share. The transaction is expected to be tax free to FCB shareholders.

“We look forward to welcoming FCB customers and team members to the Synovus family and are enormously excited about the growth and value-creation opportunities this transaction presents for our combined companies and respective shareholders,” said Kessel Stelling, Synovus chairman and CEO. “This acquisition will expand our presence in the high-growth South Florida marketplace while leveraging FCB’s market leading reputation, culture, and successful organic growth platform.”

“The FCB team is excited to join the Synovus family and we look forward to being part of one of the most prominent and successful regional banks in the country,” said FCB Financial Holdings President and CEO Kent Ellert. “We are enthusiastic about our similar cultures, which are community- and customer-centric, and are confident our combined companies will help us build upon the great client relationships that have resulted in more than $11 billion of organic loan production and 22 consecutive quarters of record operating results for FCB.”

In Florida, Synovus gains $9.9 billion in deposits and 50 full-service banking centers, with significant market share in all top 10 Florida markets including Miami-Dade, the largest market by population in the Southeast. The transaction deepens Synovus’ commitment to Florida, complementing its presence in Pensacola, Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando, Sarasota, and Naples with FCB’s market-leading presence across South Florida.

Synovus expects approximately $40 million in pretax synergies to be fully realized by 2020. Excluding one-time charges, Synovus expects the acquisition to be approximately 6.5% accretive to earnings per common share in 2020 and to deliver strong returns on capital. The transaction is expected to produce tangible book value per share dilution of 3.3% with an earnback period of less than two years.

The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by both companies’ Boards of Directors. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Synovus and FCB Financial Holdings shareholders and approval by state and federal bank regulators.

BofA Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC served as financial advisors to Synovus on this transaction, while Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Alston & Bird LLP served as legal advisors. Sandler O’Neill + Partners L.P., Guggenheim Securities, LLC, and Evercore Group L.L.C. served as financial advisors to FCB Financial Holdings, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal advisor.