OceanFirst to buy Flushing Financial, raise $225M from Warburg Pincus

Core Viewpoint - OceanFirst Financial has agreed to acquire Flushing Financial for $579 million in stock, marking one of the last bank deals of 2025 [1][2] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition will be supported by a $225 million investment from Warburg Pincus in newly issued equity securities, with the deal expected to close in the second quarter of next year [2] - The merger will create a regional bank with $23 billion in assets and 71 branches primarily located in New Jersey, New York, and the Philadelphia area [2][6] - OceanFirst's common stock will represent approximately 58% of the merged entity, while Flushing stockholders will hold about 30%, and shares issued to Warburg Pincus will account for around 12% [3] Group 2: Market Reaction - Following the announcement, OceanFirst's stock price fell by 5.6%, and Flushing's stock dropped nearly 8% [3] Group 3: Regulatory Considerations - Flushing currently has assets below $10 billion, which exempts it from debit interchange price caps; however, this will change post-acquisition, limiting fee income for OceanFirst [4] Group 4: Strategic Insights - The acquisition is viewed as a strategic move to eliminate a competitor in the New York and New Jersey markets, enhancing OceanFirst's presence in New York City, where it has been expanding since 2019 [5][6] - The merger is expected to strengthen OceanFirst's distribution network and branding, which would have required significant time and investment to achieve independently [6] - OceanFirst plans to reduce its commercial real estate concentration, which is already substantial and will increase after the Flushing transaction [6]