OLSEN PALMER ADVISES FIRST SOUTH BANK IN AGREEMENT TO BE ACQUIRED BY SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION

Washington, D.C. – Olsen Palmer LLC is pleased to announce that First South Bank (“FSB”) and its parent Hardeman County Investment Company, Inc. (“HCIC”) have agreed to be acquired by Simmons First National Corporation (“Simmons”) for $76.5 million in stock and cash based on Simmons’ common stock closing price as of November 17, 2016.

Under the terms of the Agreement, each outstanding share of common stock and equivalents of HCIC will be converted into the right to receive 4.8393 shares of the Company’s common stock and $181.47 in cash, all subject to certain conditions and potential adjustments.  Completion of the transaction, which is subject to approval by HCIC’s shareholders, regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions, is expected in the first quarter of 2017.  After closing, FSB is expected to continue operations as a separate bank subsidiary of Simmons for an interim period until it is merged into Simmons Bank.

Founded in 1903, First South Bank has total assets of $462 million and operates 10 branches across 4 Tennessee counties. Simmons (NASDAQ: SFNC) is a financial holding company, headquartered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, with total assets of $8.2 billion and office locations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Tennessee.

Olsen Palmer LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and issued a fairness opinion to Hardeman County Investment Company, Inc. This is the 11th whole-bank or branch M&A transaction announced or completed in the past 2 years in which Olsen Palmer has served as advisor.

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About Olsen Palmer

Olsen Palmer LLC is a nationally-recognized investment banking firm that specializes in advising financial institutions across Mergers & Acquisitions. By design, we take an independent approach: nimble, high-touch, and conflict-free. Specializing in buy-side M&A advisory, sell-side M&A advisory, valuations, fairness opinions, branch acquisitions and divestitures, and Board-level assessments of strategic options.

For more information, please visit our website: www.OlsenPalmer.com.