Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or for dissemination in the United States
- Aligned with National Bank’s strategic plan to accelerate growth across all its business lines in Canada
- Provides customers an expanded product and service offering nationally, extensive banking centre network and common customer experience culture
- Maintains branch footprint and Edmonton-based executive and operational presence
- Combination creates stronger competitor, and provides more choice for Canadians
- Concurrent subscription receipt
offering of $1 billion
National Bank of Canada (“National Bank”) (TSX: NA) and Canadian Western Bank (“CWB”) (TSX: CWB) today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement (the “Agreement”) for National Bank to acquire CWB, a diversified financial services institution based in Edmonton, Alberta. The transaction brings together two complementary banks with growing businesses, enabling the united bank to enhance services to customers by offering a comprehensive product and service platform at national scale, with a regionally focused service model.
National Bank will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of CWB (the “CWB Shares”) by way of a share exchange (the “Transaction”), valuing CWB at approximately $5.0 billion (the “CWB Equity Value”).
“This transaction is about growth and brings together two
great banks with a complementary footprint in personal and
commercial banking, and supports our objectives in Western
Canada and across the country,” said Laurent Ferreira,
President and CEO of National Bank. “CWB has developed an
attractive banking franchise with a reputation for exceptional
service with deep customer relationships across a number of
priority industries and service lines. This combination will
provide customers with access to a broader range of services,
expertise and products, along with the benefits of supporting
technological investment and innovation. When we combine these
strengths with our commercial and retail banking offering,
leading wealth management and capital markets franchises, we
will be able to do more for clients, both existing and new, and
unlock significant value creation opportunities. I look forward to
joining forces with the CWB team so that together, we deliver a
stronger banking choice for all Canadians and Canadian
businesses.”
“We are proud to come together with National Bank and are confident that this combination will create incredible value for our clients, teams, communities and our shareholders. Together, we can offer Canadians more choice by combining CWB’s four-decade legacy of serving business owners and their families with National Bank’s scale, complementary market expertise and the technological capabilities necessary to accelerate our growth,” said Chris Fowler, CEO of CWB. “Our two organizations share similar values grounded in an unwavering commitment to our clients, a deep history of entrepreneurship and a commitment to giving back in the communities we serve. We’re excited to build on this legacy together.”
TRANSACTION BENEFITS
- Creating a Canadian banking leader with growth
priorities from coast-to-coast – The combination brings
together complementary banks with complementary footprints and
established positions in Western Canada. The united bank’s
growth objectives in the region will be supported by executive
and operational leaders based out of Edmonton, Alberta. National
Bank will increase banking services across CWB’s existing
network. CWB customers will continue to have access to branches
in the communities where they typically bank across Canada, as
well as additional locations in National Bank’s network. As part
of the transaction, National Bank’s board of directors will be
strengthened by the addition of two CWB nominees.
- Expanding services for Canadian banking and wealth
management customers – With a larger network and the joint
resources of both banks, National Bank can increase its banking
and wealth management activities, and offer more competitive
products and services to provide customers with more options and
better value. CWB retail customers will benefit from a larger
product offering and digital platform, small business clients
can utilize National Bank’s cash and risk management solutions,
and commercial clients will benefit from access to National
Bank’s leading capital markets franchise. This combination adds
more full-service choice to Canadian businesses and individual
customers across Canada.
- Investing in the
future of the Western Canadian economy – National Bank has
a strong track record of investing in both the Alberta and
Western Canadian economies, with leading franchises in energy,
agriculture, and affordable housing lending, as well as a top
position in renewables. Today, Alberta and British Columbia
represent approximately 24% of National Bank’s assets under
administration, including managing more than $24 billion in client
assets, and more than $25 billion in authorized credit for Western
Canadian businesses. Western Canada is already a priority growth
market for National Bank and the combination with CWB’s small and
mid-market business and exposure in growing sectors such as
equipment finance will contribute to National Bank becoming an even
more valuable partner to Canadian banking and wealth management
customers.
- Deepening commitments to
communities – National Bank takes pride in its active
participation in the communities where it operates. For example,
in 2023 National Bank partnered with local tech accelerators to
establish the National Bank Investor Hub to improve connections
between investors and Calgary technology startups, and 2024 will
mark the fifth year of the National Bank Challenger in Calgary,
one of the largest international tennis tournaments in Canada.
Through this combination, National Bank will add to its existing
national investments and expand its support to western
communities by doubling CWB’s community investment program to
more than $3 million annually. Building on CWB’s longstanding
relationships, the combined bank will increase its support to
Indigenous communities across its banking, wealth management and
capital markets franchises.
- Welcoming new and diverse talent to the National Bank family – National Bank’s tools and investments in innovation will provide exciting and rewarding career opportunities for CWB team members as both organizations come together in serving clients coast-to-coast in a unified way. In addition to benefiting from strong regional leadership across corporate and client-facing functions in Alberta, the united bank will grow in areas such as customer experience and services.
TRANSACTION DETAILS
With $37 billion in loans, CWB is a full-service bank in Canada focused on servicing businesses, their owners and their families, offering services in business and personal banking, equipment financing, trust services and wealth management through its 39 branches located across Western Canada and Ontario. CWB will increase National Bank’s commercial banking portfolio by approximately 52%, adding domestic earning power and enhancing loan and revenue diversification.
The Transaction is expected to be accretive to adjusted EPS on run-rate cost and funding synergies. National Bank has identified $270 million of pre-tax annual cost and funding synergies, with upside from revenue opportunities. National Bank expects to maintain a CET1 ratio above 12.75% at close.
Each CWB Share, other than those held by National Bank, will be exchanged for 0.450 of a common share (the “National Bank Shares”) of National Bank (the “Exchange Ratio”). Based on the 20-day volume weighted average trading price of the National Bank Shares on the TSX as of June 11, 2024, the Exchange Ratio values each CWB Share at $52.24, representing a 110% premium to the closing price of the CWB Shares on the TSX of $24.89 as of June 11, 2024, and a 100% premium to the volume weighted average trading price of the CWB Shares over the last 20 days. The National Bank Shares to be issued upon closing of the Transaction will represent a pro forma ownership of approximately 10.5% of National Bank by CWB shareholders, taking into account the Private Placement and the Public Offering (as defined below).
The Transaction is subject to approval of 66 2/3% of the votes
cast by CWB shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders (the
"Meeting") expected to be held in September 2024 to approve
an amendment to CWB’s by-laws to provide for the share exchange. The
Agreement contains customary non-solicitation covenants on the part of
CWB, subject to customary “fiduciary out” provisions, as well as
“right to match” provisions in favour of National Bank. A termination
fee equivalent to 4% of the CWB Equity Value would be payable by CWB
to National Bank in certain circumstances, including in the context of
a superior proposal supported by CWB’s board of directors. A reverse
termination fee equivalent to 4% of the CWB Equity Value would be
payable by National Bank to CWB in certain circumstances where key
regulatory approvals are not obtained prior to the outside date.
The CWB board has evaluated the Agreement with CWB’s management and legal and financial advisors and has unanimously determined that the Transaction is in the best interests of CWB and is fair to the CWB shareholders. All directors and executives of CWB have entered into support and voting agreements pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their CWB Shares in favour of the Transaction, subject to certain conditions.
In connection with their review and consideration of the Transaction, the CWB board engaged J.P. Morgan as its exclusive financial advisor. J.P. Morgan provided an opinion to the CWB board that, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set out in its opinion, as of June 11, 2024 the Exchange Ratio in the proposed Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to holders of CWB Shares.
The board of directors of National Bank has evaluated the Agreement with National Bank’s management and legal and financial advisors and has unanimously determined that the Transaction is in the best interests of National Bank. National Bank shareholder approval is not required in connection with the Transaction.
The Transaction is expected to close by the end of 2025, subject to approval by CWB shareholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals. The Transaction is not subject to any financing condition.
Additional details regarding the Transaction will be set out in CWB’s management information circular to be prepared and made available to the CWB shareholders in advance of the Meeting. Copies of the Agreement and the circular will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the CWB website at www.cwb.com.
ACQUISITION FINANCING
National Bank also announced today that it intends to complete an equity financing in connection with the Transaction. The equity financing is comprised of a public offering (the “Public Offering”) and concurrent private placement (the “Private Placement”) of subscription receipts (the “Subscription Receipts”) for gross proceeds totaling approximately $1.0 billion before giving effect to the Over-Allotment Option and the Additional Subscription Option (as defined below).
Pursuant to the Public Offering, National Bank has agreed to issue and sell 4,453,000 Subscription Receipts at a price of $112.30 for total gross proceeds of approximately $500 million. The Public Offering is being underwritten on a bought-deal basis by a syndicate of underwriters led by National Bank Financial Inc. (“NBF”). National Bank has granted the underwriters an option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase up to an additional 667,950 Subscription Receipts at the public offering price exercisable up to 30 days after closing of the public offering.
Pursuant to the concurrent Private Placement, National Bank has agreed to issue and sell 4,453,000 Subscription Receipts at the public offering price to Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec or an affiliate thereof (“CDPQ”) for gross proceeds of approximately $500 million. All of CDPQ’s Subscription Receipts will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the date of their issuance. CDPQ will have the right to purchase up to an additional 667,950 Subscription Receipts, to maintain its pro-rata ownership and subject to, and in the same proportion as, the Over-Allotment Option being exercised by the underwriters (the “Additional Subscription Option”).
National Bank intends to use the net proceeds from the equity
financing to support strong regulatory capital ratios following the
closing of the Transaction, to fund any cash consideration under the
terms of the Transaction and to pay the Transaction expenses.
The Subscription Receipts to be issued pursuant to the Public Offering and the Over-Allotment Option will be offered in all provinces and territories of Canada by way of a prospectus supplement to the short form base shelf prospectus of National Bank dated August 22, 2022. The Subscription Receipts to be issued pursuant to the Public Offering will also be offered in the United States concurrently to “qualified institutional buyers” in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “U.S. Securities Act”).
The issuance of the Subscription Receipts under the Public Offering and the Private Placement is subject to the approval of the TSX.
It is expected that the closing of the Private Placement will occur concurrently with the closing of the Public Offering. However, the Private Placement is not conditional upon the completion of the Public Offering, and the Public Offering is not conditional upon the completion of the Private Placement. Closing of both offerings is expected to occur on or about June 17, 2024.
No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. The Subscription Receipts to be issued as part of the Public Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the Subscription Receipts may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Subscription Receipts in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
ADVISORS
NBF is acting as lead financial advisor to National Bank in connection with the Transaction. McCarthy Tétrault LLP and Mayer Brown LLP are acting as legal advisors to National Bank. Jefferies Securities, Inc. provided a fairness opinion to the board of National Bank. J.P. Morgan is acting as exclusive financial advisor to CWB and is providing a fairness opinion to the board of directors of CWB. Torys LLP is acting as legal advisor to CWB. Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP is acting as legal advisor to CDPQ.
CONFERENCE CALL
- National Bank will host a conference call on June 11,
2024 at 16:45 EDT.
- All participants may
access the call listen-mode only by dialing 1-800-806-5484
or 416-340-2217. The access code is 8107433#.
- A recording of the conference call can be heard until
September 5, 2024 by dialing 1-800-408-3053 or 905-694-9451. The
access code is 2139106#.
INVESTOR PRESENTATION
An investor presentation is available at https://www.nbc.ca/about-us/investors.html.