CVB in SoCal strikes deal to boost Bay Area presence

Core Viewpoint - CVB Financial has agreed to acquire Heritage Commerce Corp. for $811 million in stock, marking a significant expansion into the Bay Area for CVB [1][3]. Company Overview - Heritage Commerce Corp. has $5.6 billion in assets and holds deposits of $4.6 billion, primarily in the Bay Area [2]. - CVB Financial, headquartered in Ontario, California, has over $15 billion in assets [2]. Strategic Objectives - The acquisition is described as a "key strategic objective" for CVB, with CEO David Brager emphasizing the importance of Bay Area expansion [3]. - The deal is seen as the largest acquisition by assets in CVB's history, following a series of negotiations between CVB and Heritage [3]. Market Position and Synergies - Both banks focus on commercial and industrial lending, with nearly 90% of the merged portfolio consisting of C&I and commercial real estate loans [5]. - The merger is expected to enhance product offerings and create synergies, accelerating Heritage's long-term strategic plans [6]. Financial Metrics - The combined entity will have total assets of $21.7 billion and deposits of $17.2 billion, with a Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ratio of 14.6% [8]. - CVB anticipates earnings-per-share accretion of 13% by 2027, with tangible book value dilution of 7.7% expected to be recovered in approximately two and a half years [10]. Leadership and Integration - Clay Jones will remain as president of the merged company, while David Brager will continue as CEO, highlighting their strong working relationship [11]. - The primary focus post-merger will be on the seamless integration of the two banks [10]. Future Outlook - CVB plans to sell Heritage's $400 million portfolio of purchased mortgages after the deal closes, projected for the second quarter of 2026 [9][11]. - The projected credit mark for the Heritage loan portfolio is 1.08%, indicating a lower estimate of potential losses compared to many bank mergers [12].