OLSEN PALMER ADVISES SENB BANK IN AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE GATEWAY COMMUNITY BANK

Olsen Palmer is pleased to announce that Moline, Illinois-based McLaughlin Holding Company, parent company of SENB Bank, has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire Gateway Banc Corp., parent company of Gateway Community Bank in Roscoe, Illinois.

Olsen Palmer served as exclusive financial advisor to the parent company of McLaughlin Holding Company. Roger Hernandez, Director and head of the firm’s Chicago office, and Christopher Olsen, Managing Partner based in the firm’s Washington, DC office, served as lead advisors on the transaction.

Upon completion of the merger, the combined company will have assets of $309 million, deposits of $227 million, gross loans of $208 million, and will operate 7 branches throughout Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

The transaction, which is subject to customary conditions including regulatory approval and approval by the shareholders of Gateway Banc Corp., is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019.

Download Transaction Announcement (PDF)

About Olsen Palmer LLC

Olsen || Palmer is an independent, nationally-recognized investment banking firm that exclusively advises financial institutions across Mergers & Acquisitions. By design, advising clients is our only business allowing a truly client-centric 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.

OLSEN PALMER ADVISES FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF MCHENRY IN AGREEMENT TO BE ACQUIRED BY BLACKHAWK BANK

Washington D.C. – Olsen Palmer is pleased to announce that McHenry, Illinois-based First McHenry Corporation, parent company of First National Bank of McHenry, has signed a definitive merger agreement whereby 100% of First McHenry common stock will be acquired by Beloit, Wisconsin-based Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX: BHWB), parent company of Blackhawk Bank in an all-cash transaction.

The transaction price of $23.0 million equated to 1.6x the seller’s tangible book value and 25x the seller’s earnings (LTM).

Olsen Palmer LLC served as exclusive financial adviser to First McHenry Corporation. Christopher Olsen, Managing Partner, and Roger Hernandez, Director and head of the firm’s Chicago office, served as lead advisors on the transaction.

The transaction, which is subject to customary conditions including regulatory approval and approval by the shareholders of First McHenry, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact 202-627-2043 or colsen@olsenpalmer.com.

Download Transaction Announcement (PDF)

About Olsen Palmer LLC

Olsen || Palmer is an independent, nationally-recognized investment banking firm that exclusively advises financial institutions across Mergers & Acquisitions. By design, advising clients is our only business allowing a truly client-centric 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 www.OlsenPalmer.com.

OLSEN PALMER ADVISES CATOOSA BANCSHARES, INC., PARENT COMPANY OF CAPITAL BANK, IN AGREEMENT TO MERGE WITH FNB BANCSHARES, INC.

Washington, D.C. – Olsen Palmer is pleased to announce that Catoosa Bancshares, Inc. (“Catoosa”), parent of Capital Bank (Fort Oglethorpe, GA), and FNS Bancshares, Inc. (“FNS”), parent of FNB Bank (Scottsboro, AL), have signed a definitive agreement pursuant to which Catoosa will merge with and into FNS in an all cash transaction.

Olsen Palmer LLC served as exclusive financial adviser to the parent company of Capital Bank.

Upon completion of the merger, the combined company will have assets of $649 million, deposits of $575 million, and gross loans of $460 million, and will operate 16 branches throughout northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and in the Nashville and Chattanooga MSAs.

Following the merger, Joseph M. “Joe” Haskins, Chairman, President and CEO of Catoosa, will become the Senior Director of Market Development with the responsibility for identifying and developing opportunities throughout Chattanooga and northwest Georgia.

The transaction, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of each company and is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Olsen Palmer has now advised on approximately $800 million in total bank M&A transaction value over the past 36 months.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact 202-627-2043 or colsen@olsenpalmer.com.

Download Transaction Announcement (PDF)

About Olsen Palmer LLC

Olsen || Palmer is an independent, nationally-recognized investment banking firm that exclusively advises financial institutions across Mergers & Acquisitions. By design, advising clients is our only business allowing a truly client-centric 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 www.OlsenPalmer.com.

OLSEN PALMER CLIENT SOUTHERN COMMUNITY BANK ACQUIRED BY SMARTFINANCIAL, INC.

Washington, D.C. – Olsen Palmer is pleased to announce that Southern Community Bank (“SCB”) and its parent company (“TBI”) have been acquired by SmartFinancial, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMBK), parent of SmartBank, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $34.9 million.

Olsen Palmer LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and issued a Fairness Opinion to the parent company of Southern Community Bank.

Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, each share of TBI common stock was exchanged for 0.8065 shares of SmartFinancial common stock, equal to a total value of approximately $34.9 million based on the 10-day Volume Weighted Average Closing Price of SmartFinancial’s stock as described in the agreement.

With the completion of the merger, Southern Community Bank’s CEO Bill Yoder has assumed the role of Chief Banking Officer for SmartBank and TBI Board member Clifton Miller has joined the SmartFinancial and SmartBank boards of directors.

With this transaction, Olsen Palmer has now advised on approximately $750 million in total bank M&A transaction value over the past 36 months.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact 202-627-2043 or colsen@olsenpalmer.com.

Download Transaction Announcement (PDF)

About Olsen Palmer LLC

Olsen || Palmer is an independent, nationally-recognized investment banking firm that exclusively advises financial institutions across Mergers & Acquisitions. By design, advising clients is our only business allowing a truly client-centric 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 www.OlsenPalmer.com.

OLSEN PALMER CLIENT MERCHANTS & PLANTERS BANK HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY CENTENNIAL BANK

Washington, D.C. – Olsen Palmer is pleased to announce that Merchants & Planters Bancshares, Inc. (“MPBI”), parent company of Merchants & Planters Bank, has been acquired by F&M Bancshares, Inc. (“FMBI”), parent company of Centennial Bank.

Olsen Palmer LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and issued a Fairness Opinion to Merchants & Planters Bancshares, Inc.

With this transaction, Olsen Palmer, a leading M&A adviser to community banks according to data from SNL Financial, has advised on approximately $700 million in total bank M&A transaction value over the past 36 months.

If you would like additional information or have any questions – on M&A, valuation, or strategic options – please feel free to contact us at 202-627-2043 or colsen@olsenpalmer.com.

 Download Transaction Announcement (PDF)

About Olsen Palmer LLC               

Olsen || Palmer is an independent, nationally-recognized investment banking firm that exclusively advises financial institutions across Mergers & Acquisitions. By design, advising clients is our only business allowing a truly client-centric 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.