Pinnacle Financial Partners Conference Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Pinnacle Financial Partners (NasdaqGS: PNFP) - **Event**: Conference Call on December 09, 2025 - **Key Event**: Announcement of a transformational merger of equals with Synovus, expected to close early next year after receiving regulatory approval [1][4][5] Core Points and Arguments Merger Strategy - The merger is positioned as a unique opportunity, with a focus on maintaining the Pinnacle brand and model, contrasting with past merger failures in the industry [5][6] - Concerns about value destruction similar to previous mergers (e.g., Truist) have been addressed by establishing a long-term CEO and a clear go-to-market strategy [4][6][7] - The merger will leverage the scalable FIS platform used by Synovus, minimizing risks associated with system changes [7] Market Overlap and Cultural Integration - Only 11 overlapping markets identified, representing about 6% of pro forma deposits, reducing execution risk [8][10] - Cultural integration is emphasized, with both companies aiming to create a best place to work and maintain high employee engagement scores (Pinnacle at 93%, Synovus at 89%) [10][11] Growth Projections - Projected loan and deposit growth for 2026 is set at 9%-11%, with Pinnacle's historical growth rate at 12% and Synovus at around 3% [21][22] - Growth will be driven by hiring additional revenue producers and leveraging existing specialties from both companies [22][23] Revenue Synergies - Expected revenue synergies of $100-$130 million over two to three years, with contributions from both legacy companies [35] - Focus on integrating products and capabilities from both banks to enhance service offerings and client relationships [34][35] Hiring Strategy - Plans to hire approximately 500 incremental employees over the next two years, focusing on experienced bankers with established relationships [36][38] - Continuous recruitment methodology will be employed to ensure a steady influx of talent [38][40] Capital Management - Targeting a CET1 ratio of over 10% post-merger, with a focus on growth rather than share repurchases [87][93] - The company aims to generate capital through growth initiatives, with dividends expected to be lower than historical levels [95] Important but Overlooked Content - The merger is framed as a strategic move to build a bank with scale while maintaining a strong corporate culture and client focus, contrasting with larger banks that have lower net promoter scores [66][68] - The leadership emphasizes the importance of maintaining a unique client experience and employee satisfaction to prevent high attrition rates post-merger [62][74] - The potential liquidity event for BHG, a significant investment, is acknowledged, with plans to replace any lost revenue through strategic partnerships and capital allocation [121][123] Conclusion - Pinnacle Financial Partners is positioned for significant growth post-merger, with a strong focus on cultural integration, strategic hiring, and maintaining a client-centric approach. The leadership is optimistic about the future, aiming to become the fastest-growing regional bank with high profitability and efficiency by 2027 [127][128]

Core Viewpoint - Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. announced the board of directors for their proposed combined company, which will retain the name Pinnacle Financial Partners [1] Company Structure - The board will consist of eight directors from Pinnacle and seven from Synovus, including six independent directors from each company [1]

Core Viewpoint - Boston Partners reduced its holdings in Pinnacle Financial Partners by 7.8% in Q2, indicating a shift in investment strategy among institutional investors [1][2]. Institutional Holdings - Boston Partners owned 76,630 shares after selling 6,510 shares, representing 0.10% of Pinnacle Financial Partners valued at $8,458,000 [2]. - Other hedge funds have modified their positions: - Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake by 36.1%, owning 16,725 shares worth $1,774,000 [3]. - HB Wealth Management LLC raised its position by 46.8%, now holding 4,734 shares valued at $502,000 [3]. - TD Asset Management Inc increased its holdings by 1.1%, owning 41,574 shares worth $4,409,000 [3]. - Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake by 2.3%, now owning 20,848 shares valued at $2,211,000 [3]. - LPL Financial LLC increased its position by 8.6%, owning 30,679 shares worth $3,253,000 [3]. - Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.40% of the stock [3]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Barclays raised its price target from $120.00 to $125.00, maintaining an "overweight" rating [4]. - Cowen initiated coverage with a "buy" rating and a target price of $122.00 [4]. - Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price from $125.00 to $95.00, rating it as "market perform" [4]. - Wells Fargo decreased its target from $110.00 to $100.00, assigning an "equal weight" rating [4]. - The consensus rating is "Hold" with an average price target of $109.55 [4]. Insider Transactions - Chairman Robert A. McCabe, Jr. sold 6,775 shares at an average price of $93.00, totaling $630,075, reducing his ownership by 3.24% [5]. - Director G Kennedy Thompson purchased 5,000 shares at an average cost of $87.63, totaling $438,150, increasing his position by 17.62% [5]. - Company insiders currently own 1.46% of the stock [5]. Financial Performance - Pinnacle Financial Partners reported an EPS of $2.27 for the last quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.05 by $0.22 [7]. - Revenue for the quarter was $544.80 million, surpassing expectations of $526.40 million [7]. - The company had a net margin of 19.17% and a return on equity of 9.91% [7]. - Analysts expect the company to post an EPS of 7.85 for the current fiscal year [7]. Dividend Information - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.24, representing an annualized dividend of $0.96 and a yield of 1.0% [8]. - The payout ratio is currently 12.20% [8]. Company Overview - Pinnacle Financial Partners operates as a bank holding company providing various banking products and services in the U.S. [9].

Core Insights - Synovus Financial Corp. and Pinnacle Financial Partners are progressing towards their merger after receiving Federal Reserve approval for the $8.6 billion all-stock transaction announced on July 24, 2025 [1][9] - The merger is expected to close on January 1, 2026, pending standard closing conditions, with Synovus branches continuing to operate under their brand until full integration [2][6] Merger Details - The merger structure remains consistent with initial plans, aiming to enhance the firms' presence in high-growth Southeastern markets [3] - Shareholders will receive shares of a new Pinnacle parent company based on a fixed exchange ratio of 0.5237 Synovus shares per Pinnacle share [3] - The combined entity will operate under the Pinnacle brand, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with Pinnacle Bank based in Nashville, TN [4] Strategic Rationale - The merger combines Pinnacle's relationship-driven model with Synovus' extensive branch network, creating a larger platform for organic growth [5] - The combined company is projected to hold approximately $116 billion in assets, positioning it among the largest regional banking franchises in the U.S. Southeast [8][9] - The merger is expected to drive significant financial benefits, including approximately 21% operating EPS accretion and a tangible book value earn-back period of 2.6 years [10] Integration Planning - Integration management teams are preparing for Day One operations, focusing on organizational structures, technology, and market continuity [6] - Full system and brand conversions are scheduled for the first half of 2027, with no material changes expected in daily banking activities until then [6] Market Context - Synovus aims to become part of the fastest-growing regional bank in the Southeast, with a deposit-weighted household growth forecast of 4.6% from 2025 to 2030, significantly above the national average [7] - Synovus shares have gained 1.3% over the past six months, contrasting with a 0.1% decline in the industry [11]

Core Viewpoint - The merger between Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp has received regulatory approval and is expected to close on January 1, 2026, following shareholder approval on November 6, 2025 [1][15]. Company Overview - Pinnacle Financial Partners has approximately $56 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, and is recognized as the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA according to 2025 FDIC deposit data [5][6]. - Synovus Financial Corp has around $60 billion in assets and operates 244 branches across five states, providing a full suite of banking services [7]. Merger Details - The combined entity will have total assets of $116 billion, with headquarters in Atlanta, GA, and Pinnacle Bank based in Nashville, TN [4]. - Integration teams are actively working on plans for operational continuity and brand integration, with full system conversions expected in the first half of 2027 [3]. Leadership and Strategic Goals - Kevin Blair, CEO of Synovus, will serve as the president and CEO of the combined company, while Terry Turner, CEO of Pinnacle, will be the chairman of the board post-merger [2]. - The merger aims to leverage the strengths of both organizations to accelerate growth and enhance service delivery to clients and communities [2][4].

Group 1 - The Federal Reserve Board approved Steel Newco, Inc.'s application to become a bank holding company by merging with Synovus Financial Corporation and Pinnacle Financial Partners [1] - As a result of the merger, Steel Newco will indirectly acquire Synovus Bank and Pinnacle Bank [1] - The Board also approved the merger of Pinnacle Bank with Synovus Bank, allowing Pinnacle Bank to remain a state member bank under Federal Reserve supervision [2] Group 2 - Pinnacle Bank received approval to establish and operate branches at the locations of Synovus Bank [2]

Core Insights - Pinnacle Financial Partners has been recognized as the No. 4 Best Bank to Work For in the U.S. for 2025, improving from No. 5 in 2024 [1][2] - The bank is the largest in its category, with $56 billion in assets, and has consistently ranked No. 1 or No. 2 among banks with over $10 billion in assets since the rankings began [2][5] - Pinnacle has received multiple workplace awards in 2025, highlighting its commitment to employee satisfaction and corporate culture [3][11] Company Performance - Pinnacle Financial Partners operates with approximately $56 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, making it the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee [6] - The firm has maintained a strong presence in various urban markets across the Southeast and is recognized as the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA based on 2025 deposit data from the FDIC [5][6] Awards and Recognition - Pinnacle has been featured in several prestigious lists in 2025, including: - No. 9 on FORTUNE's 2025 100 Best Companies to Work For [5] - No. 3 in FORTUNE's 2025 Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance [3] - No. 4 in FORTUNE's 2025 Best Workplaces for Women, up from No. 8 in 2024 [11] - The firm has appeared on the Best Banks to Work For list for 13 consecutive years since its inception in 2013 [2][5] Employee Engagement - Pinnacle's approach to employee engagement includes a two-step evaluation process for workplace satisfaction, which involves assessing workplace practices and surveying employees [4] - The bank's leadership emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment where employees feel valued, which in turn enhances client service [2]

Core Insights - Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. will participate in a joint fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs 2025 U.S. Financial Services Conference to discuss their pending merger [1] - Pinnacle Financial Partners is the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA and has grown market share in 22 out of 27 MSAs measured [2] - Pinnacle Financial Partners has approximately $56.0 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, and is the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee [3] Company Overview - Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a comprehensive range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage, and insurance products and services [2] - The firm has been recognized as one of America's Best Banks to Work For for 12 consecutive years and ranked No. 9 on FORTUNE magazine's 2025 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For [2] - Pinnacle Financial Partners has been named in the top five nationwide in FORTUNE magazine's 2025 list of the Best Workplaces for Women, ranking No. 4, up from No. 8 in 2024 [6] Financial Performance - Pinnacle Financial Partners announced a cash dividend of $0.24 per share to be paid on November 28, 2025, to common shareholders of record as of November 7, 2025 [7] - The board also approved a quarterly dividend of approximately $3.8 million, or $16.88 per share, on its 6.75 percent Series B Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock [7] Shareholder Approval - Shareholders of Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. voted in favor of the proposed merger, with approximately 91.5 percent of votes cast in favor at the Synovus special meeting [5]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses two volatile stocks that may offer significant gains and one stock that is recommended for sale, highlighting the importance of careful investment choices in a fluctuating market. Group 1: Stock to Sell - Winnebago (WGO) is identified as a stock to sell, trading at $36.02 per share with a forward P/E of 15.3x [2][4] - The company has a rolling one-year beta of 1.12, indicating moderate volatility [2] Group 2: Stocks to Watch UMB Financial (UMBF) - UMB Financial is a financial holding company with a rolling one-year beta of 1.19, providing various banking and asset management services [5] - The stock trades at $109.20 per share with a forward P/B of 1.1x [7] Pinnacle Financial Partners (PNFP) - Pinnacle Financial Partners has a rolling one-year beta of 1.47 and focuses on delivering big-bank capabilities with community bank personalization [8] - The company has shown impressive annual net interest income growth of 20.1% over the last five years, indicating market share gains [9] - Earnings per share grew by 16.3% annually over the last two years, significantly outperforming peers [9] - The balance sheet strength has improved, with a tangible book value per share growth of 11.6% annually over the last five years [11]

Group 1 - The meeting is an Extraordinary General Meeting of Atlantic Lithium Limited, confirming a quorum is present and the meeting is properly constituted [1] - The meeting is being held virtually, allowing shareholders to attend online via the Computershare platform, where they can listen to the webcast, watch presentations, ask questions, and submit votes [2] - Key directors in attendance include the CEO Keith Muller and Finance Director Amanda Harsas, while some directors have sent their apologies for not attending [3] Group 2 - Online attendees can submit questions at any time using the Q&A icon, with questions addressed at relevant times during the meeting [4] - If multiple similar questions are received, they will be grouped together for efficiency, with a moderator facilitating the process [5] - Voting will be conducted by a poll on all items of business, with a polling icon appearing on attendees' devices when voting opens [6]