Filed by: M&T Bank Corporation
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Peoples United Financial, Inc. (Commission File No.: 001-33326)
The following communication was made available by M&T Bank Corporation on Twitter on February 22, 2021:
M&T M&T Bank @MandT_Bank We're pleased to announce that we're expanding the M&T family and have entered into an agreement to acquire People's United Financial, a community-based regional bank that shares similar core falues. Learn more and other important information: mtb.com/peoples-united People's United Bank + M&T Bank Member FDIC. All rights reserved. 7:30 AM - Feb 22, 2021 - Sprinklr Publishing
The following communication was made available by M&T Bank Corporation on LinkedIn on February 22, 2021:
M&T M&T Bank 82,419 followers 53m We are pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement to acquire People's United Financial, a diversified, community-focused financial services company. At M&T, we believe our value lies in providing our customers the capabilities of a large bank with the engagement model of a localized, community-based organization. Founded in 1842, in People's United we have found a partner with an equally long history of serving all their communities with commercial, retail banking and wealth management solutions throughtout its network. "Combining our common legacies and our complementary footprints will strengthen our ability to serve our communities and customers and provide solutions that make a difference in people's lives. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity and look forward to welcoming new customers and team members to our M&T family." -- Rene Jones, chairman and chief executive officer of M&T Bank Corporation. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. We are committed to keeping you informed of ongoing updates. Pleae visit our website to learn more and other important information: https://lnkd.in/deEtPRW People's United Bank + M&T Bank Member FDIC. All rights reserved.
The following communication was made available by M&T Bank Corporation on Facebook on February 22, 2021:
M&T M&T Bank 51 mins We are pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement to acquire People's United Financial, a diversified, community-focused financial services company. At M&T, we believe our value lies in providing our customers the capabilities of a large bank with the engagement model of a localized, community-based organization. Founded in 1842, in People's United we have found a partner with an equally long history of serving all their communities with commercial, retail banking and wealth management solutions throughout its network. "Combining our common legacies and our complementary footprints will strengthen our ability to serve our communities and customers and provide solutions that make a difference in people's lives. I am incredibly excited about this opportunity and look forward to welcoming new customers and team members to our M&T family." -- Rene Jones, chairman and chief executive officer of M&T Bank Corporation. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021. We are committed to keeping you informed of ongoing updates. Pleae visit our website to learn more and other important information: https://www.mtb.com/peoples-united People's United Bank + M&T Bank Member FDIC. All rights reserved.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, M&T Bank Corporation (M&T) will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration statement on Form S-4 to register the shares of M&Ts capital stock to be issued in connection with the proposed transaction. The registration statement will include a joint proxy statement of M&T and Peoples United Financial, Inc. (Peoples United), which will be sent to the shareholders of M&T and Peoples United seeking their approval of the proposed transaction.
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF M&T AND PEOPLES UNITED AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS TO BE INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT M&T, PEOPLES UNITED AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the registration statement, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC containing information about M&T and Peoples United, without charge, at the SECs website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies of the registration statement, including the joint proxy statement/prospectus, and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Investor Relations, M&T Bank Corporation, One M&T Plaza, Buffalo, New York 14203, telephone (716) 635-4000, or Steven Bodakowski, Peoples United Financial, Inc., 850 Main Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604, telephone (203) 338-4202.
Participants in the Solicitation
M&T, Peoples United and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information regarding M&Ts directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on March 9, 2020, and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Information regarding Peoples Uniteds directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 6, 2020, and certain of its Current Reports on Form 8-K. Other information regarding the participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC. Free copies of these documents, when available, may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about M&Ts and Peoples Uniteds businesses, beliefs of M&Ts and Peoples Uniteds management and assumptions made by M&Ts and Peoples Uniteds management. Any statement that does not describe historical or current facts is a forward-looking statement, including statements regarding the expected timing, completion and effects of the proposed transactions and M&Ts and Peoples Uniteds expected financial results, prospects, targets, goals and outlook. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as believe, expect, anticipate, intend, target, estimate, continue, positions, prospects or potential, by future conditional verbs such as will, would, should, could, or may, or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions (Future Factors) which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.
Future Factors include, among others: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between M&T and Peoples United; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against M&T or Peoples United; the possibility that the proposed transaction will not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals are not received or other conditions to the closing are not satisfied on a timely basis
or at all, or are obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed combination could have adverse effects on the market price of the common stock of either or both parties to the combination; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction will not be realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where M&T and Peoples United do business; certain restrictions during the pendency of the merger that may impact the parties ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; diversion of managements attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the transaction; M&Ts and Peoples Uniteds success in executing their respective business plans and strategies and managing the risks involved in the foregoing; the dilution caused by M&Ts issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed transaction; and other factors that may affect future results of M&T and Peoples United; the business, economic and political conditions in the markets in which the parties operate; the risk that the proposed combination and its announcement could have an adverse effect on either or both parties ability to retain customers and retain or hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers; the risk that the proposed combination may be more difficult or time-consuming than anticipated, including in areas such as sales force, cost containment, asset realization, systems integration and other key strategies; revenues following the proposed combination may be lower than expected, including for possible reasons such as unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transactions; the unforeseen risks relating to liabilities of M&T or Peoples United that may exist; and uncertainty as to the extent of the duration, scope, and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Peoples United, M&T and the proposed combination.
These are representative of the Future Factors that could affect the outcome of the forward-looking statements. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, general economic and political conditions, either nationally or in the states in which M&T, Peoples United or their respective subsidiaries do business, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes and trends in the securities markets, and other Future Factors.
M&T provides further detail regarding these risks and uncertainties in its latest Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs, including in the respective Risk Factors sections of such reports, as well as in subsequent SEC filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and M&T does not assume any duty and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements.