Commerce Bancshares Agrees to Buy Finemark for $585 Million

Core Viewpoint - Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (CBSH) has agreed to acquire FineMark Holdings in an all-stock transaction valued at $585 million, expected to close on January 1, 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approvals [2][8]. Group 1: Deal Overview - The acquisition will involve FineMark shareholders receiving 0.690 shares of CBSH common stock for each FineMark share, valuing the deal at $41.87 per share based on CBSH's closing price on June 13, 2025 [4]. - FineMark, founded in 2007, operates 13 banking offices across Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina, with assets of $4 billion, deposits of $3.1 billion, and loans of $2.6 billion as of March 31, 2025 [3][2]. Group 2: Financial Impact - The transaction is projected to be 6% accretive to CBSH's 2026 GAAP earnings, with anticipated cost savings of 15% on FineMark's non-interest expenses [4][8]. - The deal is expected to result in a tangible book value per share dilution of 2.2%, with an earn-back period of 1.6 years, and will incur one-time, pre-tax expenses of $57 million [5][4]. Group 3: Management Insights - CBSH's President and CEO, John Kemper, emphasized the strategic significance of the acquisition, highlighting the shared values and client-centric approach between the two companies [6]. - FineMark's CEO, Joseph R. Catti, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting the alignment in mission and culture, which will facilitate continued growth [6]. Group 4: Market Context - Over the past year, CBSH shares have increased by 13.3%, which is below the industry's growth of 23.5% [9]. - CBSH currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [10].