Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBSH) ("Commerce") and FineMark Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX:FNBT) ("FineMark") announced today that FineMark's shareholders have approved and adopted the definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Commerce will acquire FineMark, marking a major milestone in the strategic combination of the two institutions.
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Over 83% of the issued and outstanding shares of FineMark common stock were represented at the special meeting of FineMark's shareholders (the "FineMark special meeting"), constituting a quorum. According to the final report of FineMark's inspector of elections, FineMark's shareholders adopted and approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 16, 2025, by and among, Commerce, CBI-Kansas, Inc. and FineMark (the "merger proposal") by the following votes:
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
10,247,809 (99.95%) |
4,800 (.05%) |
0 (0.00%) |
As described above, there were sufficient shares of FineMark common stock present in person or by proxy and voted at the FineMark special meeting in favor of the merger proposal, and as a result, the proposal to adjourn the FineMark special meeting was not considered or voted upon at the FineMark special meeting.
Over 99% of the votes cast were in favor of the merger proposal.
Joseph Catti, chairman and CEO of FineMark, added, "The results of our shareholder vote reflect our belief that this merger offers a tremendous opportunity for our clients, associates, and shareholders. We are optimistic about the future and excited to join forces with Commerce to strengthen our capabilities and expand our reach as one company."
"We are pleased to have such strong support from FineMark's shareholders," said John Kemper, president and CEO of Commerce. "FineMark's commitment to excellent client service and community values aligns well with ours, and we look forward to building something even stronger together."
On June 16 of this year, the companies announced a definitive agreement pursuant to which Commerce will acquire FineMark in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $585MM. As previously reported, promptly following the filing of the merger applications, the parties received all regulatory approvals from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and the Missouri Division of Finance to complete the transaction, underscoring the strength and alignment of both organizations. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is on track to close January 1, 2026.
ABOUT COMMERCE
With $32.3 billion in assets1, Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBSH) is a regional bank holding company offering a full line of banking services through its subsidiaries, including payment solutions, investment management and securities brokerage. One of its subsidiaries, Commerce Bank, leverages 160 years of proven strength and experience to help individuals and businesses solve financial challenges. In addition to offering payment solutions across the U.S., Commerce Bank currently operates full-service banking facilities across the Midwest including the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas, Springfield, Central Missouri, Central Illinois, Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Denver. Beyond the Midwest, Commerce also maintains commercial offices in Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Nashville, Des Moines, Indianapolis, and Grand Rapids and wealth offices in Dallas, Houston and Naples. Commerce delivers high-touch service and sophisticated financial solutions at regional branches, commercial and wealth offices, ATMs, online, mobile and through a 24/7 customer service line. Learn more at www.commercebank.com.
1As of June 30, 2025
ABOUT FINEMARK
FineMark Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of FineMark National Bank & Trust. Founded in 2007, FineMark is a nationally chartered bank and trust company, headquartered in Florida. Through its offices located in Florida, Arizona and South Carolina, FineMark offers a full range of financial services, including personal and business banking, lending, trust and investment services. FineMark's common stock trades on the OTCQX under the symbol FNBT. Investor information is available on FineMark's website at www.finemarkbank.com.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, certain plans, expectations, goals, projections, and statements about the benefits of the proposed business combination transaction between Commerce and FineMark (the "Proposed Transaction"), the plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of Commerce and FineMark, the expected timing of completion of the Proposed Transaction, and other statements that are not historical facts. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including statements about beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "plan," "potential," "estimate," "project," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect," "target" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are many factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are intended to be subject to the safe harbor provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Factors relating to the Proposed Transaction that could cause or contribute to actual results differing materially from those contained or implied in forward-looking statements or historical performance include, in addition to those factors identified elsewhere in this press release the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of Commerce or FineMark to terminate the definitive merger agreement governing the terms and conditions of the Proposed Transaction; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Commerce or FineMark; the possibility that revenue or expense synergies or the other expected benefits of the Proposed Transaction may not fully materialize or may take longer to realize than expected, or may be more costly to achieve than anticipated, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies, the strength of the economy and competitive factors in the areas where Commerce and FineMark do business, or other unexpected factors or events; the possibility that the Proposed Transaction may not be completed when expected or at all because conditions to closing are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all; the risk that Commerce is unable to successfully and promptly implement its integration strategies; reputational risks and potential adverse reactions from or changes to the relationships with the companies' customers, employees or other business partners, including resulting from the announcement or the completion of the Proposed Transaction; the dilution caused by Commerce's issuance of common stock in connection with the Proposed Transaction; diversion of management's attention and time from ongoing business operations and other opportunities on matters relating to the Proposed Transaction; and other factors that may affect the future results of Commerce and FineMark, including continued pressures and uncertainties within the banking industry and Commerce's and FineMark's markets, including changes in interest rates and deposit amounts and composition, adverse developments in the level and direction of loan delinquencies, charge-offs, and estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, increased competitive pressures, asset and credit quality deterioration, the impact of proposed or imposed tariffs by the U.S. government or retaliatory tariffs proposed or imposed by U.S. trading partners that could have an adverse impact on customers or any recession or slowdown in economic growth particularly in the markets in which Commerce or FineMark operate, and legislative, regulatory, and fiscal policy changes and related compliance costs.
These factors are not necessarily all of the factors that could cause Commerce's or FineMark's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm Commerce's or FineMark's results.
Further information regarding Commerce and factors that could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein can be found in Commerce's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is accessible on the Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") website at www.sec.gov and at Investor.Commercebank.com, and in other documents Commerce files with the SEC. Information on these websites is not part of this document.
All forward-looking statements attributable to Commerce or FineMark, or persons acting on Commerce's or FineMark's behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and Commerce and FineMark do not undertake or assume any obligation to update publicly any of these statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. If Commerce or FineMark update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that Commerce or FineMark will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
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Public Relations
Tiffany Charles (314) 746-8567
Tiffany.Charles@commercebank.com
Investor Relations
Matt Burkemper (314) 746-7485
Matthew.Burkemper@CommerceBank.com