FirstAtlantic Financial Holdings, Inc. Enters into Definitive Agreement to Join National Commerce Corporation

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 16, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Commerce Corporation (Nasdaq:NCOM) (“NCC”), the parent company of National Bank of Commerce (“NBC”), headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and FirstAtlantic Financial Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX:FFHD) (“FirstAtlantic”), the parent company of FirstAtlantic Bank, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, today jointly announced the signing of a definitive agreement providing for the merger of FirstAtlantic with and into NCC.  Subsequent to the merger, FirstAtlantic Bank will become a part of NBC, but will continue to operate under the “FirstAtlantic Bank” trade name and its existing management team.  The transaction is expected to result in a combined institution with approximately $3.1 billion in assets.

“We are excited to partner with Mitch Hunt and his team at FirstAtlantic, and we look forward to the opportunity to work together to build a great company,” said Richard Murray, IV, President and Chief Executive Officer of NCC. “The FirstAtlantic franchise is a great fit for us, and we are optimistic about the potential for the Jacksonville market.”

Mitchell W. Hunt, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of FirstAtlantic, also commented on the announcement, saying, “Our affiliation with NCC will allow us to continue and accelerate our path to become the bank of choice for Jacksonville.  We share with NCC and NBC a commitment to community banking and exceptional customer service.  We are honored and excited to become a part of the NCC family, and we look forward to continuing to build on our foundation.”

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, each share of common stock of FirstAtlantic issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be converted into the right to receive either 0.44 shares of NCC common stock or $17.25 in cash.  However, the total amount of cash payable in the merger will be equal to, as nearly as practicable, $11,148,555, subject to NCC’s right to increase the cash component of the merger consideration up to $14,857,305 if cash elections from FirstAtlantic shareholders exceed the initial cash amount. Accordingly, elections by FirstAtlantic shareholders to receive a particular form of consideration, whether cash or NCC common stock, will be prorated as necessary to cause the total amount of cash payable by NCC in the merger to equal, as nearly as practicable, the cash amount described above.  Each outstanding option to purchase shares of FirstAtlantic common stock will be cancelled in return for a cash payment equal to the difference between $17.25 and the option exercise price, while outstanding warrants to purchase shares of FirstAtlantic common stock will represent a right to purchase shares of NCC common stock, with the exercise price and number of shares underlying the warrants adjusted according to the exchange ratio described above.

The boards of directors of NCC, NBC, FirstAtlantic and FirstAtlantic Bank have approved the transaction.  The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals and approval by FirstAtlantic’s shareholders. 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. acted as financial adviser to NCC, and Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. acted as its legal adviser.  FIG Partners, LLC acted as financial adviser to FirstAtlantic, and Troutman Sanders LLP acted as its legal adviser.

Conference Call Details

NCC will host a conference call on Thursday, August 17, 2017, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss the merger.  Investors may call in (toll free) by dialing (844) 296-8205 (conference ID 69386619).  Alternatively, individuals may listen to the live webcast of the conference call by visiting www.nationalbankofcommerce.com/investor-relations.htm. The presentation materials to be used during the conference call/webcast will be posted to the same website in advance of the conference call/webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available on the website for one year.

About National Commerce Corporation

National Commerce Corporation (Nasdaq:NCOM), a Delaware corporation, is a financial holding company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Substantially all of the operations of National Commerce Corporation are conducted through the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, National Bank of Commerce. National Bank of Commerce currently operates seven full-service banking offices in Alabama, ten full-service banking offices in central and northeast Florida (including under the trade names United Legacy Bank and Reunion Bank of Florida) and two full-service banking offices in Atlanta, Georgia (including under the trade names Private Bank of Buckhead, Private Bank of Decatur and PrivatePlus Mortgage). National Bank of Commerce provides a broad array of financial services for commercial and consumer customers.

Additionally, National Bank of Commerce owns a majority stake in Corporate Billing, LLC, a transaction-based finance company headquartered in Decatur, Alabama that provides factoring, invoicing, collection and accounts receivable management services to transportation companies and automotive parts and service providers throughout the United States and parts of Canada.

National Commerce Corporation files periodic reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Copies of its filings may be obtained through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or at www.nationalbankofcommerce.com. More information about National Commerce Corporation and National Bank of Commerce may be obtained at www.nationalbankofcommerce.com.

About FirstAtlantic Financial Holdings, Inc.

FirstAtlantic Financial Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for FirstAltantic Bank, a full-service community bank headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. FirstAtlantic Bank had approximately $462 million in assets as of June 30, 2017 and operates eight financial centers located in Jacksonville, Orange Park, St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. FirstAtlantic Bank is dedicated to serving businesses, professionals, and consumers while offering a full array of banking services. FirstAtlantic Bank has earned the coveted 5-Star Superior rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading bank rating firm.  For additional information about FirstAtlantic, visit www.firstatlantic.bank/.

Contact Information

Additional Information about the Merger and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, NCC will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 to register the shares of NCC common stock to be issued to the shareholders of FirstAtlantic.  The registration statement will include a proxy statement-prospectus that will be sent to the shareholders of FirstAtlantic in connection with their approval of the merger.  In addition, NCC may file other relevant documents concerning the proposed merger with the SEC.  The material in this press release is not a substitute for the proxy statement-prospectus that NCC will file with the SEC.

INVESTORS IN FIRSTATLANTIC ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND THE PROXY STATEMENT-PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NCC, NBC, FIRSTATLANTIC, FIRSTATLANTIC BANK AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, INCLUDING DETAILED RISK FACTORS.

Investors may obtain free copies of these documents, when available, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.  Free copies of the proxy statement-prospectus also may be obtained, when available, by directing a request to National Commerce Corporation, 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35209, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or to FirstAtlantic Bank, 1325 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by accessing information available at www.nationalbankofcommerce.com or www.firstatlantic.bank/.  The information on either website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this release or incorporated into other filings that NCC makes with the SEC.  A final proxy statement-prospectus will be mailed to the shareholders of FirstAtlantic.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

Proxy Solicitation

NCC, FirstAtlantic and their respective directors, executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of FirstAtlantic in connection with the proposed transaction.  Information about the directors and executive officers of NCC is set forth in NCC’s proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 21, 2017.  Additional information regarding the interests of these participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies may be obtained by reading the proxy statement-prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements for which NCC claims the protection of the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified as such.  In addition, certain statements may be contained in NCC’s future filings with the SEC, in press releases and in oral and written statements made by NCC or with NCC’s approval that are not statements of historical fact and that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act.  Words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “targeted,” “continue,” “remain,” “will,” “should,” “may” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements (including oral representations) involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements.  These risks and uncertainties include the possibility that regulatory and other approvals and conditions to the proposed transaction are not received or satisfied on a timely basis or at all, or contain unanticipated terms and conditions; the possibility that modifications to the terms of the transactions may be required in order to obtain or satisfy such approvals or conditions; the receipt and timing of approval of FirstAtlantic’s shareholders; delays in closing the merger; difficulties, delays and unanticipated costs in integrating the merging organizations’ businesses or realizing expected cost savings and other benefits; business disruptions as a result of the integration of the merging organizations, including possible loss of customers; diversion of management time to address transaction-related issues; and changes in asset quality and credit risk as a result of the merger.  These risks also include a number factors related to the business of NCC and FirstAtlantic and the banking business generally, including various risks to stockholders of not receiving dividends; risks to NCC’s ability to pursue growth opportunities; various risks to the price and volatility of NCC’s common stock; risks associated with NCC’s possible pursuit of future acquisitions; economic conditions in NCC’s and FirstAtlantic’s current service areas; system failures; losses of large customers; disruptions in relationships with third-party vendors; losses of key management personnel and the inability to attract and retain highly qualified management and personnel in the future; changes in the extensive governmental legislation and regulations governing banking; high costs of regulatory compliance; the impact of legislation and regulatory changes on the banking industry; and liability and compliance costs regarding banking regulations. 

Forward-looking statements made by NCC in this press release, or elsewhere, speak only as of the date on which the statements were made.  You are advised to read the risk factors in NCC’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC, which are available through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by accessing information available at www.nationalbankofcommerce.com.  New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for NCC to predict these events or how they may affect it or its anticipated results.  NCC has no duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this press release, except as may be required by law.  In light of these risks and uncertainties, readers should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made in this press release may not occur.  All data presented herein is as of the date of this release unless otherwise noted.