Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation (NYSE:AUB) has fully exercised its option to enter an additional forward sale agreement with Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) & Co. LLC, involving 1,478,873 shares of its common stock. This move follows the company's previous engagement in a forward sale agreement concerning 9,859,155 shares, as reported on Monday.
The additional agreement, executed on Monday, is in line with the terms of the initial forward sale agreement and is connected to the underwriting agreement with Morgan Stanley, acting as the forward purchaser and seller. The exercise of the option to purchase additional shares is part of a public offering, where the underwriters were granted a 30-day option to acquire up to 1,478,873 additional shares.
Atlantic Union Bankshares, a Virginia-based state commercial bank, has indicated that the terms of the additional forward sale agreement are consistent with those detailed in the initial agreement. This strategic move is expected to provide the company with a mechanism to potentially raise capital in the future by settling the forward sale agreements through the delivery of shares, which could result in proceeds to the company, subject to customary conditions.
The information in this article is based on a press release statement and the recent Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed in the press release. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation's common stock and depositary shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols AUB and AUB.PRA, respectively.
In other recent news, Atlantic Union Bankshares has seen significant financial developments. The company announced a strategic merger with Sandy Spring Bancorp (NASDAQ:SASR), aiming to form the largest regional bank in the Mid-Atlantic region with combined assets of $39 billion.
Analysts from various firms, including Stephens, anticipate that the merger will deliver a 23% earnings per share (EPS) accretion and a 20% internal rate of return.
Furthermore, Atlantic Union reported strong financial results for the third quarter of 2024, with a net income of $73.4 million and adjusted operating earnings of $74.5 million, marking a 32.3% increase from the previous quarter. The company also raised its net proceeds by $386 million through an overallotment option, priced at $35.50 per share.
Stephens analyst confirmed an Overweight rating on Atlantic Union Bankshares, raising the price target to $46.00 from the previous $44.00, highlighting the financial and strategic benefits of the SASR deal. The acquisition is expected to result in a pro forma Common Equity Tier 1 (CET-1) ratio of 10% and a Tangible Risk-Based Capital (TRBC) of 13.8%.
Post-merger, Atlantic Union plans to sell around $2 billion of commercial real estate loans. This move aims to reduce the company's concentration in commercial real estate loans to approximately 285%. These are some of the recent developments in Atlantic Union Bankshares.
InvestingPro Insights
Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation's recent move to exercise its option for an additional forward sale agreement aligns with its financial position and market performance. According to InvestingPro data, AUB's revenue growth has been robust, with a 23.31% increase in the most recent quarter. This growth trajectory may support the company's decision to potentially raise additional capital through these forward sale agreements.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that AUB has maintained dividend payments for 31 consecutive years and has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years. This consistent dividend policy, coupled with a current dividend yield of 3.53%, may appeal to income-focused investors. The company's profitability over the last twelve months and analysts' predictions of continued profitability this year further underscore its financial stability.
However, it's worth noting that AUB's P/E ratio stands at 18.12, which investors may want to consider in the context of the banking sector's valuations. Moreover, the company's Price to Book ratio of 1.19 suggests that the stock is trading slightly above its book value.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 6 additional tips for AUB, providing deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.