lower-than-expected income tax expense or tax rates, including increases or decreases resulting from changes in uncertain tax position liabilities, tax laws, regulations and case law; weakness or a decline in the U.S. economy, in particular in New Jersey, the New York Metropolitan area (including Long Island), Florida, California or the Chicago metropolitan area; an unexpected decline in commercial real estate values within Valley’s or Leumi’s market areas; reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of Valley’s or Leumi’s customers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the Transaction; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Valley or Leumi; and the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on Valley’s or Leumi’s businesses, the ability to complete the Transaction or any of the other foregoing risks. Further information regarding Valley and factors which could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein are set forth in Valley’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, and its other filings with the SEC. Valley assumes no obligation for updating any such forward-looking statement at any time.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
In connection with the Transaction and the issuance of shares of Valley common stock as consideration in the Transaction, Valley will file with the SEC a proxy statement of Valley (the “Proxy Statement”), and Valley may file with the SEC other relevant documents concerning the Transaction. When completed, the definitive Proxy Statement will be mailed to shareholders of Valley. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Valley may file with the SEC or send to its shareholders in connection with the Transaction.
SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE TRANSACTION CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BY VALLEY, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT VALLEY, LEUMI AND THE TRANSACTION.
Free copies of the Proxy Statement, as well as other filings containing information about Valley, may be obtained at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) when they are filed by Valley. Investors will also be able to obtain these documents, when they are filed, free of charge, from Valley at www.valley.com under the heading “Investor Relations.” The Proxy Statement can also be obtained, when it becomes available, free of charge, at Valley’s website at http://ir.valleynationalbank.com or by directing a request to Ronald H. Janis, Senior Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Valley National Bancorp, at 1455 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470, telephone (973) 305-8800.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
Valley, Leumi and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Valley in respect of the Transaction. Information about Valley’s directors and executive officers is available in its proxy statement for its 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 8, 2021, and other documents filed by Valley with the SEC. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.