Central Valley Community Bancorp (Central Valley), (NASDAQ: CVCY), headquartered in Fresno, California, together with its banking subsidiary, Central Valley Community Bank (CVCB) and Community West Bancshares (Community West) (NASDAQ: CWBC), parent company of Community West Bank (CWB), headquartered in Goleta, California, announced the signing of an Agreement of Reorganization and Merger, dated October 10, 2023, pursuant to which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Community West Bancshares will merge with and into Central Valley Community Bancorp and Community West Bank will merge with and into Central Valley Community Bank.
Community West Bank’s seven full-service banking offices in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties will combine with Central Valley Community Bank’s 20 full-service Banking Centers in eight counties. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and shareholder approval from both parties. The Central Valley Community Bancorp and Community West Bancshares boards of directors have unanimously approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.
Under the terms of the agreement, Community West Bancshares shareholders will be entitled to receive 0.79 shares of Central Valley Community Bancorp common stock for each share of Community West Bancshares common stock. The exchange ratio is fixed, and the value of the merger consideration will fluctuate based on Central Valley Community Bancorp’s stock price. Central Valley Community Bancorp will assume the outstanding stock options of Community West Bancshares as part of the transaction. Based on the closing price of Central Valley Community Bancorp stock on October 10, 2023, the transaction is valued at $99.4 million, or $11.15 per Community West Bancshares common share.
At the close of the transaction, the combined company will retain the banking offices of both banks and anticipates no branch closings as a result of the merger. Upon the closing of the merger the resulting company will assume the name of Community West Bancshares and Central Valley Community Bank will assume the name Community West Bank. The combined company’s board of directors will have 15 directors, consisting of nine current directors from Central Valley Community Bancorp and six current directors from Community West Bancshares.
James J. Kim, President and CEO of Central Valley Community Bank and Central Valley Community Bancorp, will lead the combined bank’s team of executives and professional bankers, and will serve as CEO of the resulting company. Martin E. Plourd, CEO and Director of Community West Bank, and CEO and Director of Community West Bancshares, will serve as President and Director of the combined company. Daniel J. Doyle, Central Valley Community Bancorp Chairman of the Board, will serve as Chairman of the Board of the combined company, and Robert H. Bartlein, Community West Bank Chairman of the Board, will serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of the combined company.
The Community West Bancshares merger will become the sixth for Central Valley Community Bancorp, which acquired Folsom Lake Bank on October 2, 2017; Sierra Vista Bank on October 1, 2016; Visalia Community Bank on July 1, 2013; Service 1st Bank on November 12, 2008; and Bank of Madera County on January 1, 2005.
Upon closing, the combined company will have approximately $3.6 billion in total assets. Existing Central Valley Community Bancorp shareholders will own approximately 63% of the outstanding shares following the merger, and Community West Bancshares shareholders will own approximately 37%.
The directors and certain executives of Community West Bancshares and Central Valley Community Bancorp have entered into agreements pursuant to which they have committed to vote their shares in favor of the acquisition.
“Central Valley Community Bank has steadily and profitably grown for over 43 years, building a highly attractive franchise in California’s San Joaquin Valley and Greater Sacramento region,” said James J. Kim, President and CEO of Central Valley Community Bancorp and Central Valley Community Bank. “The complementary culture, client service model and Central Coast presence of Community West Bank further the opportunity for Company growth in well-recognized Central California communities, creating a combined franchise whose strength and size continue to serve clients and communities with integrity, offering enhanced professional employee development opportunities and greater earnings power for shareholders.”
“Uniting our two great organizations under the single name of Community West Bank brings our unique brand of relationship banking and experienced bankers to more communities in an expanded service area, with the strength of one of Central California’s largest community banks,” stated Kim.
“Community West Bank opened for business in 1989 and is now the premier community bank serving Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Combining forces with Central Valley Community Bank is the next logical step in our growth strategy, particularly as both banks share so many fundamental values and practices. Both are equally committed to our communities, clients and employees, and both have fostered the same essential corporate culture focused on client advocacy by professional bankers and a legacy of deeply rooted stability,” said Martin E. Plourd.
“By operating as a single, united company, I believe the new Community West Bank will bring unprecedented value to the stakeholders of both companies, who will benefit from the strengthened leadership, enhanced products and services, and an expanded branch network that will give the bank tremendous visibility throughout Central California, from the Sierra Nevada to the sea,” concluded Plourd.
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