Amendment #1 to Form S-4
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 28, 2012

Registration No. 333-184742

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 1

to

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

WASHINGTON   6712   91-1422237

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary standard industrial

classification code number)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

1301 “A” Street, Tacoma, Washington 98402-4200 (253) 305-1900

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

MELANIE J. DRESSEL

President and Chief Executive Officer

1301 “A” Street

Tacoma, Washington 98402-4200

(253)305-1900

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies of communications to:

 

Stephen M. Klein

William E. Bartholdt

Graham & Dunn PC

Pier 70

2801 Alaskan Way,

Suite 300

Seattle, Washington 98121-1128

Telephone: (206) 340-9648

 

Robert D. Sznewajs

President and Chief Executive Officer

West Coast Bancorp

5335 Meadows Road – Suite 201

Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035

Telephone: (503) 684-0884

 

Matthew M. Guest

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Telephone: (212) 403-1000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of securities to the public:

As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective and upon completion of the merger described in the enclosed document.

If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x      Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨      Smaller reporting company   ¨

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.

 

 

 


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Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This document shall not constitute an offer to sell nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

PRELIMINARY—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION—DATED DECEMBER     , 2012

 

LOGO    LOGO

MERGER PROPOSED—YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

 

 

Columbia Banking System, Inc. which we refer to as “Columbia,” and West Coast Bancorp, which we refer to as “West Coast,” have entered into a definitive merger agreement that provides for the combination of the two companies. Under the merger agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia will merge with and into West Coast, with West Coast remaining as the surviving entity and a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia (which transaction we refer to as the “merger”). Such surviving entity will, as soon as reasonably practicable following the merger and as part of a single integrated transaction, merge with and into Columbia (we refer to the two mergers together as the “mergers”). Before we complete the merger, the shareholders of West Coast must approve the merger agreement pursuant to Oregon law. West Coast shareholders will vote to approve the merger agreement at a special meeting of shareholders to be held on [                    ], 2012. Columbia shareholders must approve the issuance of the shares of Columbia common stock in connection with the merger pursuant to the requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. Columbia shareholders will vote to approve the issuance of the shares of Columbia common stock in connection with the merger at a special meeting of shareholders to be held on [                    ], 2012.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, the aggregate merger consideration payable by Columbia will consist of 12,809,525 shares of Columbia common stock and $264,468,650 in cash (subject to increase under certain circumstances). West Coast shareholders may elect to receive either cash, stock, or a unit consisting of a mix of cash and stock, in an amount equal to such holder’s pro rata share (subject to certain adjustments) of the total merger consideration. However, because the total amount of cash and stock to be issued by Columbia is fixed, a West Coast shareholder may receive a combination of cash and stock that differs from such holder’s election if too many West Coast shareholders elect one form of consideration over the other. We expect the mergers, taken together, to be a tax-free transaction for West Coast shareholders, to the extent they receive Columbia common stock for their shares of West Coast common stock. Based on the 12,809,525 fixed shares issued by Columbia to West Coast shareholders, after completion of the merger, West Coast shareholders would own approximately 24% of Columbia’s common stock (including shares of Columbia common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and the exercise of Class C Warrants, and ignoring any shares of Columbia common stock they may already own).

The value of the consideration to be received by West Coast shareholders in the merger will vary with the trading price of Columbia common stock between now and the completion of the merger. The per share consideration is determined by the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of: (A) the product of: (i) the Purchaser Average Closing Price (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and (ii) the total Columbia shares to be issued; and (B) the total cash Columbia will pay; and (C) $24 million plus proceeds from in-the-money option exercises; by (2) the sum of common share equivalents from common shares, preferred stock, warrants and in-the-money options. The table below shows the approximate hypothetical value of the merger consideration per share if it had been calculated based on the closing price for Columbia common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on each of September 25, 2012, the trading day immediately prior to the announcement of the merger, and [        ], the last practicable trading day prior to the date of this document.

 

Date

   Columbia closing price   Per share consideration

September 25, 2012

   $18.85   $23.08

[            ]

   [            ]   [            ]

The market prices of both Columbia common stock and West Coast common stock will fluctuate before the merger. You should obtain current stock price quotations for Columbia common stock and West Coast common stock. Columbia common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “COLB,” and West Coast common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “WCBO.”

The West Coast board of directors has unanimously determined that the combination of West Coast and Columbia is in the best interests of West Coast shareholders based upon its analysis, investigation and deliberation, and the West Coast board of directors unanimously recommends that the West Coast shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of the merger agreement and “FOR” the approval of the other proposals described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

The Columbia board of directors has also unanimously determined that the combination of Columbia and West Coast is in the best interests of Columbia shareholders based upon its analysis, investigation and deliberation, and the Columbia board of directors unanimously recommends that the Columbia shareholders vote “FOR” the issuance of shares of Columbia common stock in connection with the merger and “FOR” the approval of the other proposals described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

You should read this entire joint proxy statement/prospectus, including the appendices and the documents incorporated by reference into the document, carefully because it contains important information about the merger and the related transactions. In particular, you should read carefully the information under the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 18.

The shares of Columbia common stock to be issued to West Coast shareholders in the merger are not deposits or savings accounts or other obligations of any bank or savings association, and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved the merger described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus or the Columbia common stock to be issued in the merger, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated [                    ], 2012 and is first being mailed to the shareholders of West Coast and the shareholders of Columbia on or about [                    ], 2012.


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COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM, INC.

1301 “A” Street

Tacoma, Washington 98402

 

 

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held [                    ], 2012

 

 

Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Shareholders of Columbia Banking System, Inc., or Columbia, will be held at [            ], on [                    ], 2012, at [    ], local time. The following proposals will be considered and conducted at the Columbia special meeting:

 

  1. To approve the issuance of shares of Columbia common stock in the merger of a to-be-formed wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia with and into West Coast Bancorp, an Oregon corporation, which will result in West Coast Bancorp becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia.

 

  2. To approve one or more adjournments of the Columbia special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including adjournments to solicit additional proxies in favor of the issuance of Columbia common stock in the merger.

Columbia will transact no other business at the special meeting, except for business properly brought before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement of such meeting.

The approval by Columbia’s shareholders of the share issuance proposal is required for the completion of the merger described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

All shareholders are invited to attend the meeting. Only those shareholders of record at the close of business on [                    ], 2012 will be entitled to notice of the meeting and to vote at the meeting.

Please refer to the attached joint proxy statement/prospectus with respect to the business to be transacted at the special meeting of Columbia shareholders.

Your vote is very important. To ensure your representation at the Columbia special meeting, please complete and return the enclosed proxy card or submit your proxy by telephone or through the Internet. Please vote promptly whether or not you expect to attend the Columbia special meeting. Submitting a proxy now will not prevent you from being able to vote in person at the Columbia special meeting.

The Columbia board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” each of the Columbia proposals.

By Order of the Board of Directors

Melanie J. Dressel

President and Chief Executive Officer

[                    ], 2012


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WEST COAST BANCORP

5335 MEADOWS ROAD, SUITE 201

LAKE OSWEGO, OR 97035

NOTICE OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON [                    ], [2012]

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting of the shareholders of West Coast Bancorp (“West Coast”) will be held at [            ] at [    ], Pacific time, on [                    ], 2012, for the following purposes:

1. To approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 25, 2012, by and among Columbia Banking System, Inc., West Coast, and Sub (as defined therein) (the “Merger” proposal);

2. To approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation to be paid to West Coast’s named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the merger, discussed under the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of West Coast Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” beginning on page 83 (the “Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation” proposal); and

3. To approve one or more adjournments of the West Coast special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including adjournments to permit further solicitation of proxies in favor of the Merger proposal (the “West Coast Adjournment” proposal).

West Coast will transact no other business at the special meeting, except for business properly brought before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

The Merger proposal and the Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation proposal are described in more detail in this document, which you should read carefully in its entirety before you vote. A copy of the merger agreement is attached as Appendix A to this document.

The West Coast board of directors has set [                    ], 2012 as the record date for the West Coast special meeting. All holders of record of West Coast common stock or preferred stock at the close of business on the record date will be notified of the meeting. Only holders of record of West Coast common stock at the close of business on [                    ], 2012 will be entitled to vote at the West Coast special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Any shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the West Coast special meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote on such shareholder’s behalf. Such proxy need not be a holder of West Coast common stock.

Your vote is very important. To ensure your representation at the West Coast special meeting, please complete and return the enclosed proxy card or submit your proxy by telephone or through the Internet. Please vote promptly whether or not you expect to attend the West Coast special meeting. Submitting a proxy now will not prevent you from being able to vote in person at the West Coast special meeting.

The West Coast board of directors has unanimously adopted and approved the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and recommends that you vote “FOR” the Merger proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation proposal and “FOR” the West Coast Adjournment proposal.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Robert D. Sznewajs

President and Chief Executive Officer


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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Both Columbia and West Coast file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other business and financial information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy any materials that either Columbia or West Coast files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 ((800) 732-0330) for further information on the public reference room. In addition, Columbia and West Coast file reports and other business and financial information with the SEC electronically, and the SEC maintains a website located at http://www.sec.gov containing this information. You will also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from West Coast by accessing West Coast’s website at www.wcb.com under the heading “Investor Relations” or from Columbia at www.columbiabank.com under the tab “About Us” and then under the heading “Investor Relations.” Copies can also be obtained, free of charge, by directing a written request to Columbia Banking System, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1301 A Street, Suite 800, Tacoma, Washington 98401-2156 or to West Coast Bancorp, 5335 Meadows Road, Suite 201, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035.

Columbia has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 to register with the SEC up to 12,859,525 shares of Columbia common stock and certain other securities as specified therein. This joint proxy statement/prospectus is a part of that registration statement. As permitted by SEC rules, this document does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or in the exhibits or schedules to the registration statement. You may read and copy the registration statement, including any amendments, schedules and exhibits at the addresses set forth below. Statements contained in this document as to the contents of any contract or other documents referred to in this document are not necessarily complete. In each case, you should refer to the copy of the applicable contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. This document incorporates important business and financial information about Columbia and West Coast that is not included in or delivered with this document, including incorporating by reference documents that Columbia and West Coast have previously filed with the SEC. These documents contain important information about the companies and their financial condition. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference” on page 134. These documents are available without charge to you upon written or oral request to the applicable company’s principal executive offices. The respective addresses and telephone numbers of such principal executive offices are listed below

 

Columbia Banking System, Inc.    West Coast Bancorp
1301 A Street, Suite 800    5335 Meadows Road, Suite 201
Tacoma, Washington 98401    Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035
Attention: Melanie J. Dressel    Attention: Robert D. Sznewajs
(253) 305-1900    (503) 684-0884

To obtain timely delivery of these documents, you must request the information no later than [                    ], 2012 in order to receive them before Columbia’s special meeting of shareholders and no later than [                    ], 2012 in order to receive them before West Coast’s special meeting of shareholders.

Columbia common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “COLB,” and West Coast common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “WCBO.”


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

     1   

SUMMARY

     10   

RISK FACTORS

     18   

Risk Factors Relating to the Merger

     18   

Risk Factors Relating to West Coast and West Coast’s Business

     22   

Risk Factors Relating to Columbia and Columbia’s Business

     23   

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF COLUMBIA

     24   

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF WEST COAST

     26   

SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

     28   

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     29   

COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA OF COLUMBIA (UNAUDITED)

     39   

MARKET PRICES, DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS

     40   

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     41   

THE MERGER

     42   

Terms of the Merger

     42   

Conversion of Shares; Exchange of Certificates; Elections as to Form of Consideration

     48   

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger

     51   

Accounting Treatment

     51   

Public Trading Markets

     51   

Resale of Columbia Common Stock

     52   

Background of the Merger

     52   

Recommendation of the West Coast Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger

     55   

Opinion of West Coast’s Financial Advisor

     57   

Recommendation of the Columbia Board of Directors and Reasons for the Merger

     76   

Opinion of Columbia’s Financial Advisor

     77   

Management and Board of Directors of Columbia After the Merger

     83   

Interests of West Coast Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger

     83   

Merger-Related Compensation for West Coast’s Named Executive Officers

     87   

Series B Preferred Stock, Stock Options, Class C Warrants, and Restricted Shares

     88   

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

     89   

Effects of the Merger

     89   

Effective Time of the Merger

     89   

Covenants and Agreements

     89   

Representations and Warranties

     97   

Conditions to the Merger

     100   

Termination; Termination Fee

     101   

Effect of Termination

     102   

Amendments, Extensions and Waivers

     102   

Stock Market Listing

     103   

Fees and Expenses

     103   

Related Agreements

     103   

LITIGATION RELATED TO THE MERGER

     106   

MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER

     107   

 

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DESCRIPTION OF COLUMBIA’S CAPITAL STOCK

     109   

Common Stock

     109   

Preferred Stock

     110   

COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF COLUMBIA AND WEST COAST COMMON STOCK

     113   

General

     113   

Comparison of Shareholders’ Rights

     113   

COLUMBIA SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

     122   

Date, Time and Place

     122   

Purpose

     122   

Record Date and Quorum

     122   

Vote Required

     123   

Treatment of Abstentions; Failure to Vote

     123   

How to Vote

     123   

Shares Held in Street Name

     124   

Revoking Your Proxy

     124   

Attending the Columbia Special Meeting

     124   

Proxy Solicitations

     125   

Delivery of Proxy Materials To Shareholders Sharing an Address

     125   

INFORMATION CONCERNING COLUMBIA

     125   

General

     125   

WEST COAST SPECIAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING

     127   

General

     127   

Purpose of West Coast Special Meeting

     127   

Recommendation of the West Coast Board of Directors

     127   

West Coast Record Date and Quorum

     127   

Required Vote

     128   

Treatment of Abstentions; Failure to Vote

     128   

Voting on Proxies; Incomplete Proxies

     128   

Shares Held in Street Name

     129   

Revocability of Proxies and Changes to a West Coast Shareholder’s Vote

     129   

Solicitation of Proxies

     130   

Delivery of Proxy Materials to Shareholders Sharing an Address

     130   

Attending the West Coast Special Meeting

     130   

WEST COAST PROPOSALS

     130   

Merger Proposal

     130   

Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation Proposal

     131   

West Coast Adjournment Proposal

     131   

Other Matters To Come Before the West Coast Special Meeting

     132   

INFORMATION CONCERNING WEST COAST

     132   

CERTAIN LEGAL MATTERS

     132   

EXPERTS

     132   

WEST COAST ANNUAL MEETING SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     133   

COLUMBIA ANNUAL MEETING SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     133   

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     134   

 

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Appendix A

   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 25, 2012, by and among Columbia Banking System, Inc., West Coast Bancorp and Sub (as defined therein)

Appendix B

   Opinion of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods

Appendix C

   Opinion of Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P.

Appendix D

   Sections 60.551 to 60.594 of the Oregon Revised Statutes, Regarding Dissenters’ Rights

Appendix E

   Stock Conversion, Voting and Support Agreement by and between Columbia Banking System, Inc. and Castle Creek Capital Partners IV, LP dated September 25, 2012

Appendix F

   Stock Conversion, Voting and Support Agreement by and between Columbia Banking System, Inc. and GF Financial, L.L.C. dated September 25, 2012

Appendix G

   Stock Conversion, Voting and Support Agreement by and between Columbia Banking System, Inc. and MFP Partners, L.P. dated September 25, 2012

Appendix H

   Form of Voting and Non-Competition Agreement by and among Columbia Banking System, Inc., West Coast Bancorp and certain directors of West Coast Bancorp dated September 25, 2012

Appendix I

   Form of Voting Agreement by and among West Coast Bancorp, Columbia Banking System, Inc. and directors of Columbia Banking System, Inc. dated September 25, 2012

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The following questions and answers briefly address some commonly asked questions about the merger (as defined below) and the shareholders meetings. They may not include all the information that is important to the shareholders of West Coast and of Columbia. Shareholders of West Coast and shareholders of Columbia should each read carefully this entire joint proxy statement/prospectus, including the appendices and other documents referred to in this document.

 

Q: Why am I receiving these materials?

 

A: Columbia is sending these materials to its shareholders to help them decide how to vote their shares of Columbia common stock with respect to the issuance of Columbia common stock in the merger and the other matters to be considered at the Columbia special meeting described below. Because Columbia will issue shares of common stock in the merger in an amount in excess of 20% of Columbia’s total outstanding shares, shareholder approval of the issuance of such shares is required under applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules.

West Coast is sending these materials to its shareholders to help them decide how to vote their shares of West Coast common stock with respect to the proposed merger and the other matters to be considered at the West Coast special meeting, described below.

The merger cannot be completed unless West Coast shareholders approve the merger agreement and Columbia shareholders approve the issuance of Columbia common stock in the merger. West Coast is holding a special meeting of shareholders to vote on the merger agreement in addition to the other proposals described in “West Coast Special Meeting of Shareholders.” Columbia is holding a special meeting of shareholders to vote on the issuance of Columbia common stock in the merger in addition to the other proposals described in “Columbia Special Meeting of Shareholders.” Information about these meetings and the merger is contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

This document constitutes both a joint proxy statement of Columbia and West Coast and a prospectus of Columbia. It is a joint proxy statement because the boards of directors of both companies are soliciting proxies from their respective shareholders. It is a prospectus because Columbia will issue shares of its common stock in exchange for shares of West Coast common stock in the merger.

 

Q: What will West Coast shareholders receive in the merger?

 

A: Under the terms of the merger agreement, West Coast shareholders will receive their pro rata share (taking into account Class C Warrants and in-the-money stock options on an as-exercised basis and shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock (including shares of Series B Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of Class C Warrants)) of the total consideration, which consists of 12,809,525 shares of Columbia common stock and $264,468,650 in cash (subject to adjustment in certain circumstances).

 

Q. How will the merger consideration received by West Coast shareholders affect Columbia shareholders?

 

A. As a result of Columbia’s issuance of new shares to West Coast shareholders in combination with the cash being paid by Columbia, current Columbia shareholders will experience dilution in terms of both ownership and book value per share. Following the closing of the merger, current West Coast shareholders will own approximately 24% of the outstanding common stock of Columbia, and current Columbia shareholders will own approximately 76% of outstanding common stock. If the merger had closed on September 30, 2012, then the pro forma book value per share would have been $19.11 versus reported book value of $19.20.

 

 

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Q: What will each West Coast shareholder receive in the merger?

 

A: A West Coast shareholder may elect to receive:

 

   

all cash;

 

   

all Columbia common stock; or

 

   

a unit consisting of a mix of cash and Columbia common stock (with the percentage of cash comprising such unit equal to the percentage of the total consideration represented by cash).

All elections are subject to the election, proration and allocation procedures described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus if too many shareholders elect one form of consideration over the other. Due to these limitations, West Coast shareholders may not receive the form of merger consideration that they elected, unless they elect to receive a unit consisting of a mix of cash and Columbia common stock. See “The Merger” beginning on page 42 for a more detailed discussion of allocation procedures under the merger agreement.

 

Q: What is the amount of cash and/or the number of shares of Columbia common stock that each West Coast shareholder will receive for his or her shares of West Coast common stock?

 

A: The actual amount of cash and/or number of shares of Columbia common stock to be received will not be determined until the end of the twenty trading day period beginning on the twenty fifth day before the effective time of the merger. Those amounts will be determined based on a formula set forth in the merger agreement and described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See “The Merger—Terms of the Merger” beginning on page 42 for a more detailed discussion of the per share merger consideration.

 

Q: Is the value of the per share consideration that a West Coast shareholder receives expected to be substantially equivalent regardless of which election he or she makes?

 

A: The formula that will be used to calculate the per share consideration is intended to substantially equalize the value of the consideration to be received for each share of West Coast common stock that is exchanged in the merger, as measured during the twenty trading day period beginning on the twenty fifth day before the effective time of the merger, regardless of whether a West Coast shareholder elects to receive cash, stock or a unit consisting of a mix of cash and stock. As the value of Columbia common stock fluctuates with its trading price, however, the value of the stock that a West Coast shareholder receives for a West Coast share will likely not be the same as the cash paid per share on any given day before or after the merger.

 

Q: How and when does a West Coast shareholder elect the form of consideration he or she prefers to receive?

 

A: An election statement with instructions for making the election as to the form of consideration preferred is being mailed to West Coast shareholders simultaneously with this joint proxy statement/prospectus. To make an election, a West Coast shareholder must submit an election statement, to Columbia’s exchange agent before 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on the day prior to the fifth business day prior to the completion of the merger. This date is referred to as the “election deadline.” Election choices and election procedures are described under “The Merger.”

NOTE: The actual election deadline is not currently known. Columbia and West Coast will issue a press release announcing the date of the election deadline at least five business days before that deadline. Additionally, Columbia and West Coast will post the date of the election deadline on their respective web sites, also at least five business days before that deadline.

 

 

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Q: May a West Coast shareholder change his or her election once it has been submitted?

 

A: Yes. An election may be changed so long as the new election is received by the exchange agent prior to the election deadline. To change an election, a West Coast shareholder must send the exchange agent a written notice revoking any election previously submitted.

 

Q: How are shares of West Coast Series B Preferred Stock addressed in the merger agreement?

 

A: As described under “The Merger—Series B Preferred Stock, Stock Options, Class C Warrants and Restricted Shares,” as provided in the terms of the Series B Preferred Stock, holders of West Coast Series B Preferred Stock will have the option to convert any of such holders’ shares of Series B Preferred Stock into the merger consideration on a common-equivalent basis, subject to the same election, proration and allocation procedures applicable to West Coast common stock. Accordingly, holders of Series B Preferred Stock that wish to receive the merger consideration must submit an election statement prior to the election deadline. See “The Merger—Election Statement.” At the effective time of the merger, each share of Series B Preferred Stock as to which an election has not been made will remain outstanding and will convert into preference securities of Columbia having rights (including, but not limited to, the right of conversion), preferences, privileges and voting powers that, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable to the holders of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers that they had prior to the merger. The terms of such securities are described under “Description of Columbia’s Capital Stock” beginning on page 109.

 

Q: How are West Coast Class C Warrants addressed in the merger agreement?

 

A: As described under “The Merger—Series B Preferred Stock, Stock Options, Class C Warrants and Restricted Shares,” each Class C Warrant outstanding will become exercisable for the merger consideration based on the merger consideration that would have been received if such Class C Warrant had been exercised for Series B Preferred Stock and converted into West Coast common stock prior to the closing of the merger, subject to the same election, proration and allocation procedures applicable to West Coast common stock. Accordingly, holders of Class C Warrants must submit an election statement prior to the election deadline. See “The Merger—Election Statement.”

 

Q: How are West Coast Restricted Shares addressed in the merger agreement?

 

A: As described under “The Merger—Series B Preferred Stock, Stock Options, Class C Warrants and Restricted Shares,” at the closing of the merger, each share of West Coast common stock subject to vesting, repurchase or other lapse restrictions granted under West Coast’s incentive stock plans will vest in full, and the holder will be entitled to receive the merger consideration with respect to such shares, less applicable taxes and withholding, and subject to the same election, proration and allocation procedures applicable to West Coast common stock. Accordingly, holders of West Coast restricted shares must submit an election statement prior to the election deadline. See “The Merger—Election Statement.”

 

Q: How are outstanding West Coast stock options addressed in the merger agreement?

 

A: At the closing of the merger, each outstanding and unexercised West Coast stock option will be converted into a vested option to purchase Columbia common stock. The manner of such conversion is described under “The Merger—Series B Preferred Stock, Stock Options, Class C Warrants and Restricted Shares.”

 

Q: What happens if an election is not made prior to the election deadline?

 

A: If a West Coast shareholder fails to submit an election statement to the exchange agent prior to the election deadline, then that holder will be deemed to have made no election and will be issued shares of Columbia common stock, cash, or a mixture of stock and cash, depending on the aggregate cash and stock elections made.

 

 

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As described above, the merger consideration that will be received by holders of shares of West Coast Series B Preferred Stock, by holders of outstanding Class C Warrants, and by holders of West Coast Restricted Shares is subject to the same election, proration and allocation procedures applicable to West Coast common stock. Accordingly, if holders of Class C Warrants on Restricted Shares do not submit an election form prior to the election deadline, they will be deemed to have made no election and will be issued (or, in the case of Class C Warrants, they will become exercisable for) shares of Columbia common stock, cash, or a mixture of stock and cash, depending on the aggregate cash and stock elections made. Each share of a West Coast Series B Preferred Stock as to which an election form is not received prior to the election deadline will remain outstanding and will convert into preference securities of Columbia.

 

Q: When do Columbia and West Coast expect to complete the merger?

 

A: Columbia and West Coast expect to complete the merger after all conditions to the merger in the merger agreement are satisfied or waived, including after shareholder approvals are received at the respective shareholder meetings of Columbia and West Coast and all required regulatory approvals are received. Columbia and West Coast currently expect to complete the merger in the [first quarter of 2013]. It is possible, however, that as a result of factors outside of either company’s control, the merger may be completed at a later time, or may not be completed at all.

 

Q: What am I being asked to vote on?

 

A: Columbia shareholders are being asked to vote on the following proposals:

 

  1. Issuance of Common Stock in the Merger. To approve the issuance of Columbia common stock in the merger contemplated by the merger agreement (referred to as the “Share Issuance” proposal); and

 

  2. Adjournment of Meeting. To approve one or more adjournments of the Columbia special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including adjournments to solicit additional proxies in favor of the Share Issuance proposal (referred to as the “Columbia Adjournment” proposal).

West Coast shareholders are being asked to vote on the following proposals:

 

  1. Approval of the Merger Agreement. To approve the merger agreement (referred to as the “Merger” proposal);

 

  2. Non-Binding Approval of Certain Compensation. To approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation to be paid to West Coast’s named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the merger (referred to as the “Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation” proposal); and

 

  3. Adjournment of Meeting. To approve one or more adjournments of the West Coast special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including adjournments to solicit additional proxies in favor of the Merger proposal (referred to as the “West Coast Adjournment” proposal).

 

Q: What will happen if West Coast’s shareholders do not approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation proposal?

 

A: The vote on the Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation proposal is a vote separate and apart from the vote to approve the merger agreement. You may vote for this proposal and against the Merger proposal, or vice versa. Because the vote on this proposal is advisory only, it will not be binding on West Coast or Columbia. The merger-related named executive officer compensation to be paid in connection with the merger is based on contractual arrangements with the named executive officers and accordingly the outcome of this advisory vote will not affect the obligation to make these payments.

 

 

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Q: How do the boards of directors of Columbia and West Coast recommend that I vote?

 

A: The Columbia board of directors unanimously recommends that holders of Columbia common stock vote “FOR” the Columbia proposals described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

The West Coast board of directors unanimously recommends that West Coast shareholders vote “FOR” the West Coast proposals described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

For a discussion of interests in West Coast’s directors and executive officers in the merger that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of West Coast shareholders generally, see “The Merger—Interests of West Coast Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger,” beginning on page 83.

 

Q: What do I need to do now?

 

A: After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, please vote by telephone or on the Internet, or complete, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and return it in the enclosed envelope as soon as possible so that your shares will be represented at your respective company’s meeting.

Please follow the instructions set forth on the proxy card or on the voting instruction form provided by the record holder if your shares are held in the name of your broker or other nominee.

Additionally, West Coast shareholders, holders of Series B Preferred Stock that wish to receive merger consideration in respect of their shares, and holders of Class C Warrants should complete, sign and date the election statement. The election statement should be sent in the envelope that accompanies it to Columbia’s exchange agent in order to arrive before the election deadline.

 

Q: How do I vote?

 

A: If you are a shareholder of record of Columbia as of the record date for the Columbia special meeting or a shareholder of record of West Coast as of the record date for the West Coast special meeting, you may vote by:

 

   

accessing the internet website specified on your proxy card (www.proxyvote.com);

 

   

calling the toll-free number specified on your proxy card (1-800-690-6903); or

 

   

signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the postage-paid envelope provided.

You may also cast your vote in person at your company’s special meeting.

If your shares are held in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee, that institution will send you separate instructions describing the procedure for voting your shares. Holders in “street name” who wish to vote in person at the applicable shareholders’ meeting will need to obtain a proxy form from the institution that holds their shares.

 

Q: When and where are the Columbia special meeting and the West Coast special meeting?

 

A: The special meeting of Columbia shareholders will be held at [            ], at [    ], local time, on [                    ], 2012. All shareholders of Columbia as of the Columbia record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the Columbia special meeting.

The special meeting of West Coast shareholders will be held at [            ], at [    ] local time, on [                    ], 2012. All shareholders of West Coast as of the West Coast record date, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend the West Coast special meeting.

 

 

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Q: If my shares are held in “street name” by a broker or other nominee, will my broker or nominee vote my shares for me?

 

A: If your shares are held in “street name” in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you must provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares. Please follow the voting instructions provided by your bank or broker. Please note that you may not vote shares held in street name by returning a proxy card directly to Columbia or West Coast or by voting in person at your meeting unless you provide a “legal proxy,” which you must obtain from your bank or broker.

Brokers or other nominees who hold shares in street name for a beneficial owner typically have the authority to vote in their discretion on “routine” proposals when they have not received instructions from beneficial owners. However, brokers or other nominees are not allowed to exercise their voting discretion on matters that are determined to be “non-routine” without specific instructions from the beneficial owner. Broker non-votes are shares held by a broker or other nominee that are represented at the applicable shareholders meeting but with respect to which the broker or other nominee is not instructed by the beneficial owner of such shares to vote on the particular proposal and the broker or other nominee does not have discretionary voting power on such proposal.

If you are a Columbia shareholder and you do not instruct your broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares, your broker or other nominee may not vote your shares on the Share Issuance proposal , which broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote on this proposal. Your broker or other nominee may not vote your shares on the Columbia Adjournment proposal, which broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” this proposal.

If you are a West Coast shareholder and you do not instruct your broker or other nominee on how to vote your shares, your broker or other nominee may not vote your shares on the Merger proposal or the West Coast Adjournment Proposal, which broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” these proposals. Your broker or other nominee may not vote your shares on the Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation proposal, which broker non-votes will have no effect on the vote on this proposal.

 

Q: What vote is required to approve each proposal to be considered at the Columbia special meeting?

 

A: Approval of the Share Issuance proposal requires the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the shares of Columbia voting on the proposal, provided that a quorum is present at the Columbia special meeting.

The Columbia Adjournment proposal will be approved if a majority of the shares represented at the Columbia special meeting, even if less than a quorum, are voted in favor of the proposal.

As of the last practicable date before the printing of this document, Columbia’s directors, executive officers and their affiliates collectively had the right to vote approximately [    ]% of the Columbia common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Columbia special meeting. Columbia’s directors have entered into a Voting Agreement with respect to the Columbia shares they own, pursuant to which they have agreed to vote such shares in favor of the proposals to be considered at the Columbia special meeting.

 

Q: What vote is required to approve each proposal to be considered at the West Coast special meeting?

 

A: The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of West Coast common stock outstanding as of the West Coast record date and entitled to vote at the West Coast special meeting is required to approve the Merger proposal.

The Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation proposal will be approved, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, if the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against it.

 

 

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The West Coast Adjournment proposal will be approved if a majority of the shares of West Coast common stock present at the special meeting, in person or by proxy, are voted in favor of the proposal.

As of the last practicable date before the printing of this document, West Coast’s directors, executive officers and their affiliates collectively had the right to vote approximately [    ]% of the West Coast common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the West Coast special meeting. West Coast’s directors (or their affiliates) have entered into voting agreements with respect to the West Coast shares they own, pursuant to which they have agreed to vote such shares in favor of the proposals to be considered at the West Coast special meeting.

 

Q: What if I abstain from voting or do not vote?

 

A: For the purposes of the Columbia special meeting, an abstention, which occurs when a Columbia shareholder attends the Columbia special meeting, either in person or by proxy, but abstains from voting, will have no effect on the outcome of the Share Issuance proposal. An abstention will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Columbia Adjournment proposal.

For the purposes of the West Coast special meeting, an abstention, which occurs when a West Coast shareholder attends the West Coast special meeting, either in person or by proxy, but abstains from voting, will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger proposal and the West Coast Adjournment proposal but will have no effect on the Merger-Related Named Executive Compensation proposal.

 

Q: What if I hold stock of both Columbia and West Coast?

 

A: If you hold shares of both Columbia and West Coast, you will receive two separate packages of proxy materials. A vote as a West Coast shareholder for the Merger proposal or the other proposals to be considered at the West Coast special meeting will not constitute a vote as a Columbia shareholder for the Share Issuance proposal or the other proposals to be considered at the Columbia special meeting, and vice versa. Therefore, please sign, date and return all proxy cards that you receive, whether from Columbia or West Coast, or submit separate proxies as both a Columbia shareholder and a West Coast shareholder by Internet or telephone.

 

Q: What if I hold both shares of West Coast common stock and either shares of Series B Preferred Stock or Class C Warrants?

 

A: If you hold shares of West Coast Series B Preferred Stock and/or Class C Warrants as well as shares of West Coast common stock, you will receive separate election statements with respect to your shares of West Coast common stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Class C Warrants. If you fail to submit an election statement with respect to either your West Coast common stock, Series B Preferred Stock, or Class C Warrants to the exchange agent prior to the election deadline, then you will be deemed to have made no election with respect to your West Coast common stock, Series B Preferred Stock, or Class C Warrants, as the case may be.

 

Q: May I change my vote or revoke my proxy after I have delivered my proxy or voting instruction card?

 

A: Yes. You may change your vote at any time before your proxy is voted at the applicable meeting. You may do this in one of four ways:

 

   

by sending a notice of revocation to the corporate secretary of Columbia or West Coast, as applicable;

 

   

by sending a completed proxy card bearing a later date than your original proxy card;

 

 

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by logging onto the website specified on your proxy card in the same manner you would to submit your proxy electronically or by calling the telephone number specified on your proxy card, in each case if you are eligible to do so, and following the instructions on the proxy card; or

 

   

by attending the applicable meeting and voting in person if your shares are registered in your name rather than in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee; however, your attendance alone will not revoke any proxy.

If you choose any of the first three methods, you must take the described action (and, in the case of the second method, your proxy card must be received) no later than the beginning of the applicable meeting.

If your shares are held in an account at a broker or other nominee, you should contact your broker or other nominee to change your vote.

 

Q: What happens if I sell my shares after the applicable record date but before the applicable meeting?

 

A: The applicable record date for the Columbia special meeting or the West Coast special meeting, as the case may be, is earlier than both the date of such meetings and the date that the merger is expected to be completed. If you transfer your Columbia common stock or West Coast common stock after the applicable record date but before the date of the applicable meeting, you will retain your right to vote at the applicable meeting (provided that such shares remain outstanding on the date of the applicable meeting), but if you are a West Coast shareholder you will not have the right to receive any merger consideration for the transferred shares. You will only be entitled to receive the merger consideration in respect of shares that you hold at the effective time of the merger.

 

Q: What do I do if I receive more than one joint proxy statement/prospectus or set of voting instructions?

 

A: If you hold shares directly as a record holder and also in “street name,” or otherwise through a nominee, you may receive more than one joint proxy statement/prospectus and/or set of voting instructions relating to the applicable meeting. These should each be voted or returned separately to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

 

Q: What are the federal income tax consequences of the merger?

 

A: The obligation of Columbia and West Coast to complete the merger is conditioned upon the receipt of legal opinions from their respective counsel to the effect that the mergers, taken together, will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”).

Provided that the mergers, taken together, qualify as a reorganization for United States federal income tax purposes, the specific tax consequences of the merger to a West Coast shareholder will depend upon the form of consideration such West Coast shareholder receives in the merger.

 

   

If you receive solely shares of Columbia common stock and cash instead of a fractional share of Columbia common stock in exchange for your West Coast common stock, then you generally will not recognize any gain or loss, except with respect to the cash received instead of a fractional share of Columbia common stock.

 

   

If you receive solely cash, then you generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash you receive and your cost basis in your West Coast common stock. Generally, any gain recognized upon the exchange will be capital gain, and any such capital gain will be long-term capital gain if you have established a holding period of more than one year for your shares of West Coast common stock.

 

 

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If you receive a combination of Columbia common stock and cash, other than cash instead of a fractional share of Columbia common stock, in exchange for your West Coast common stock, then you may recognize gain, but you will not recognize loss, upon the exchange of your shares of West Coast common stock for shares of Columbia common stock and cash. If the sum of the fair market value of the Columbia common stock and the amount of cash you receive in exchange for your shares of West Coast common stock exceeds the cost basis of your shares of West Coast common stock, you will recognize taxable gain equal to the lesser of the amount of such excess or the amount of cash you receive in the exchange. Generally, any gain recognized upon the exchange will be capital gain, and any such capital gain will be long-term capital gain if you have established a holding period of more than one year for your shares of West Coast common stock. Depending on certain facts specific to you, any gain could instead be characterized as ordinary dividend income.

For a more detailed discussion of the material United States federal income tax consequences of the transaction, see “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger” beginning on page 107.

The consequences of the merger to any particular shareholder will depend on that shareholder’s particular facts and circumstances. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisor to determine your tax consequences from the merger.

 

Q: Do I have appraisal or dissenters’ rights?

 

A: Under applicable Washington and Oregon law, respectively, neither Columbia nor West Coast shareholders are currently expected to be entitled to exercise any dissenters’ rights in connection with the merger or any of the proposals being presented to them. Under Oregon law, West Coast shareholders will not be entitled to dissenters’ rights if their shares are registered on a national securities exchange, as West Coast shares currently are, on the record date for the West Coast special meeting. If for any reason West Coast’s common stock is not registered on a national securities exchange on the West Coast special meeting record date, then Oregon law would provide for dissenters’ rights of appraisal. See “The Merger—Dissenting Shares.”

Q: Should I send in my stock certificates now?

 

A: No. Please do not send your stock certificates with your proxy card. West Coast shareholders should follow the instructions provided with the election statement that they will receive from the exchange agent regarding how and when to surrender their stock certificates.

If you are a holder of West Coast common stock, you will receive written instructions from American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., the exchange agent, after the merger is completed on how to exchange your stock certificates for Columbia common stock.

Columbia shareholders will not be required to exchange or take any other action regarding their stock certificates in connection with the merger. Columbia shareholders holding stock certificates should keep their stock certificates both now and after the merger is completed.

 

Q: Whom should I contact if I have any questions about the proxy materials or the meetings?

 

A: If you have any questions about the merger or any of the proposals to be considered at the Columbia special meeting or the West Coast special meeting, need assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares or need additional copies of this joint proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy card, you should contact Columbia or West Coast [or West Coast’s proxy solicitor at [            ], as applicable.

 

 

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SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information from this document. It may not contain all of the information that is important to you. We urge you to carefully read the entire document and the other documents to which we refer you in order to fully understand the merger and the related transactions. See “Where You Can Find More Information” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Each item in this summary refers to the page of this joint proxy statement/prospectus on which that subject is discussed in more detail.

The Companies (pages 125 and 132)

Columbia

Headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, Columbia Banking System, Inc. is the holding company of Columbia State Bank, a Washington state-chartered full service commercial bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). At September 30, 2012, Columbia had 101 banking offices, including 76 branches in Washington State and 25 branches in Oregon. Columbia State Bank does business under the Bank of Astoria name in Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside, Cannon Beach, Manzanita and Tillamook in Oregon. At September 30, 2012, Columbia had total assets of approximately $4.90 billion, total net loans receivable and loans held for sale of approximately $2.86 billion, total deposits of approximately $3.94 billion and approximately $762.0 million in shareholders’ equity.

Columbia’s stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “COLB”.

Columbia’s principal office is located at 1301 “A” Street, Tacoma, Washington 98402, and its telephone number at that location is (253) 305-1900. Columbia’s internet address is www.columbiabank.com. Additional information about Columbia is included under “Information Concerning Columbia” and “Where You Can Find More Information” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

West Coast

West Coast Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon. West Coast’s principal business activities are conducted through its full-service, commercial bank subsidiary, West Coast Bank, an Oregon state-chartered bank with deposits insured by the FDIC. At September 30, 2012, West Coast Bank had facilities in 41 cities and towns in western Oregon and southwestern Washington, operating a total of 55 full-service and three limited-service branches and a Small Business Administration lending office in Vancouver, Washington. West Coast also owns West Coast Trust Company, Inc. an Oregon trust company that provides agency, fiduciary and other related trust services with offices in Portland and Salem, Oregon. At September 30, 2012, West Coast had total assets of approximately $2.48 billion, total net loans of approximately $1.46 billion, total deposits of approximately $1.93 billion, and approximately $336.0 million in shareholders’ equity.

West Coast’s stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “WCBO.”

West Coast’s principal office is located at 5335 Meadows Road, Suite 201, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035, and its telephone number at that location is (503) 684-0884. West Coast’s internet address is www.wcb.com. Additional information about West Coast is included under “Information Concerning West Coast” and “Where You Can Find More Information” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

Merger Sub

A corporation (“Merger Sub”) will be formed prior to the closing of the merger, and will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia. Merger Sub will not conduct any activities other than those incidental to its formation and the matters contemplated by the merger agreement.

 

 

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The Merger (page 42)

Both the Columbia and West Coast boards of directors have approved and adopted the merger agreement, which provides that, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and in accordance with Washington law, upon completion of the merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into West Coast, with West Coast being the surviving corporation in the merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia. This transaction is referred to in this joint proxy statement/prospectus as the “merger.” As soon as reasonably practicable following the merger and as part of a single integrated transaction, the surviving corporation will be merged with and into Columbia.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, West Coast shareholders will receive their pro rata share (taking into account Class C Warrants and in-the-money stock options on an as-exercised basis and shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock (including shares of Series B Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of Class C Warrants)) of the total consideration, which consists of $264,468,650 in cash (subject to adjustment in certain circumstances) plus the product of 12,809,525 shares of Columbia common stock multiplied by the volume weighted average price of Columbia common stock for the twenty trading day period beginning on the twenty fifth day before the effective time of the merger (the “Purchaser Average Closing Price”). West Coast shareholders may elect to receive either cash, stock or a unit consisting of a mix of cash and stock. However, because the total amount of cash and stock to be issued by Columbia is fixed, West Coast shareholders may receive a combination of cash and stock that differs from their election if too many West Coast shareholders elect one form of consideration over the other. The following table sets forth information concerning the approximate aggregate and per share consideration that would be payable in the merger based on different hypothetical Purchaser Average Closing Prices. The table does not reflect the fact that cash will be paid instead of fractional shares, and does not account for any adjustments that may be made to the total cash amount in certain circumstances. Certain terms used in the table are explained or defined elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See “The Merger” beginning on page 42.

 

     Purchaser Average
Closing Price
     Total Stock
Consideration
(in millions)
     Total Cash
Amount
(in millions)
     Aggregate
Consideration
(in millions)
     Per Share
Consideration
 
   $ 17.00       $ 217.8       $ 264.5       $ 482.2       $ 22.05   
   $ 17.25       $ 221.0       $ 264.5       $ 485.4       $ 22.19   
   $ 17.50       $ 224.2       $ 264.5       $ 488.6       $ 22.33   
   $ 17.75       $ 227.4       $ 264.5       $ 491.8       $ 22.47   
   $ 18.00       $ 230.6       $ 264.5       $ 495.0       $ 22.61   
   $ 18.25       $ 233.8       $ 264.5       $ 498.2       $ 22.75   
   $ 18.50       $ 237.0       $ 264.5       $ 501.4       $ 22.89   
   $ 18.75       $ 240.2       $ 264.5       $ 504.6       $ 23.03   

As of 9/25/12

   $ 18.85       $ 241.5       $ 264.5       $ 505.9       $ 23.08   
   $ 19.00       $ 243.4       $ 264.5       $ 507.8       $ 23.17   
   $ 19.25       $ 246.6       $ 264.5       $ 511.1       $ 23.31   
   $ 19.50       $ 249.8       $ 264.5       $ 514.3       $ 23.44   
   $ 19.75       $ 253.0       $ 264.5       $ 517.5       $ 23.58   
   $ 20.00       $ 256.2       $ 264.5       $ 520.7       $ 23.72   
   $ 20.25       $ 259.4       $ 264.5       $ 523.9       $ 23.86   
   $ 20.50       $ 262.6       $ 264.5       $ 527.1       $ 24.00   
   $ 20.75       $ 265.8       $ 264.5       $ 530.3       $ 24.14   
   $ 21.00       $ 269.0       $ 264.5       $ 533.5       $ 24.28   

Columbia and West Coast expect the mergers, taken together, to be a tax-free transaction for West Coast shareholders, to the extent they receive Columbia common stock for their shares of West Coast common stock. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger.”

 

 

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Based on the 12,809,525 fixed shares issued by Columbia to West Coast shareholders, after completion of the merger, West Coast shareholders would own approximately 24% of Columbia’s common stock (including shares of Columbia common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and the exercise of Class C Warrants, and ignoring any shares of Columbia common stock they may already own).

Recommendation of the Columbia Board of Directors (page 76)

Columbia’s board of directors recommends that holders of Columbia common stock vote “FOR” the Shares Issuance proposal and “FOR” the Columbia Adjournment proposal.

For further discussion of Columbia’s reasons for the merger and the recommendations of Columbia’s board of directors, see “The Merger—Background of the Merger” and “The Merger—Columbia’s Reasons for the Merger and Recommendation of Columbia’s Board of Directors.”

Recommendation of the West Coast Board of Directors (page 55)

West Coast’s board of directors recommends that holders of West Coast common stock vote “FOR” the Merger proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation proposal, and “FOR” the West Coast Adjournment proposal.

For further discussion of West Coast’s reasons for the merger and the recommendations of West Coast’s board of directors, see “The Merger—Background of the Merger” and “The Merger—West Coast’s Reasons for the Merger and Recommendation of West Coast’s Board of Directors.”

Opinion of Columbia’s Financial Advisor (page 77)

On September 24, 2012, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (“KBW”), Columbia’s financial advisor in connection with the merger, rendered an oral opinion to Columbia’s board of directors, which was subsequently confirmed in a written opinion dated September 25, 2012 that, as of such date and subject to and based on the qualifications and assumptions set forth in its written opinion, the aggregate consideration to be paid by Columbia pursuant to the merger agreement was fair to Columbia from a financial point of view.

The full text of KBW’s opinion, dated September 25, 2012, is attached as Appendix B to this joint proxy statement/prospectus. You should read the opinion in its entirety for a discussion of, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and any limitations on the review undertaken by KBW in rendering its opinion.

KBW’s opinion is addressed to Columbia’s board of directors and the opinion is not a recommendation as to how any Columbia shareholder should vote with respect to the Share Issuance proposal or any other matter or as to any action that a shareholder should take with respect to the merger.

The opinion addresses only the fairness of the aggregate consideration to be paid by Columbia from a financial point of view and does not address the merits of the underlying decision by Columbia to enter into the merger agreement, the merits of the merger as compared to other alternatives potentially available to Columbia or the relative effects of any alternative transaction in which Columbia might engage. KBW will receive a fee for its services, portions of which have been paid, and a significant portion of which will be payable upon consummation of the merger.

For further information, see “The Merger—Opinion of Columbia’s Financial Advisor.”

Opinion of West Coast’s Financial Advisor (page 57)

On September 25, 2012, Sandler, O’Neill + Partners, L.P. (“Sandler O’Neill”), West Coast’s financial advisor in connection with the merger, delivered an oral opinion to West Coast’s board of directors, which was

 

 

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subsequently confirmed in a written opinion dated September 25, 2012, that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth in its written opinion, the per share consideration to be paid by Columbia pursuant to the merger agreement was fair to the holders of West Coast common stock from a financial point of view.

The full text of Sandler O’Neill’s opinion, dated September 25, 2012, is attached as Appendix C to this joint proxy statement/prospectus. You should read the opinion in its entirety for a discussion of, among other things, the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Sandler O’Neill in rendering its opinion.

Sandler O’Neill’s opinion was directed to West Coast’s board of directors and is directed only to the fairness of the per share consideration to the holders of West Coast’s common stock from a financial point of view. It does not address the underlying business decision of West Coast to engage in the merger or any other aspect of the merger and is not a recommendation to any holder of West Coast common stock as to how such holder of West Coast common stock should vote at the special meeting with respect to the merger or any other matter. Pursuant to an engagement letter between West Coast and Sandler O’Neill, Sandler O’Neill will receive a fee for its services, a substantial portion of which will be payable upon consummation of the merger.

For further information, see “The Merger—Opinion of West Coast’s Financial Advisor.”

Interests of West Coast Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger (page 83)

In considering the recommendations of the board of directors of West Coast, West Coast shareholders should be aware that certain directors and executive officers of West Coast have interests in the merger that may differ from, or may be in addition to, the interests of West Coast shareholders generally. The board of directors of West Coast was aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, when it adopted the merger agreement and in making its recommendations that the West Coast shareholders approve the Merger proposal. These interests include:

 

   

In accordance with the merger agreement, one of the directors of West Coast will be recommended to serve on Columbia’s board of directors and the board of directors of Columbia State Bank following the merger;

 

   

Certain of West Coast’s executive officers are party to change in control agreements that provide severance and other benefits following a change in control of West Coast in connection with a qualifying termination of employment and if such termination of employment occurred immediately following the merger, the executive officers with change in control agreements with West Coast would be entitled to receive severance payments and benefits equal to $3,416,461 for the five executive officers who are party to a change in control agreement and excise tax gross-ups for Mr. Sznewajs of $711,619 and for Mr. Bygland of $323,397.

 

   

Hadley Robbins and Xandra McKeown, both of whom are executive officers of West Coast, entered into employment agreements with Columbia (replacing existing change in control agreements with West Coast) that become effective upon the completion of the merger and pursuant to such employment agreements, if their employment is terminated (in a qualifying termination of employment) immediately following the effective time of the merger, they would be entitled to severance payments and benefits equal to $560,427 and $569,137 respectively, with Mr. Robbins also being entitled to a 280G excise tax gross-up that is equal to $454,828;

 

   

Accelerated vesting of restricted shares of West Coast common stock held by West Coast’s executive officers and non-employee directors with a total aggregate value (based on the average closing price of West Coast common stock over the first five business days following the public announcement of the merger) equal to approximately $955,000;

 

 

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Accelerated vesting and, in most instances, payment of the supplemental executive retirement plans entered into with certain West Coast executive officers, with an aggregate acceleration value of $979,867 for all of the West Coast executive officers who participate in the supplemental executive retirement plan; and

 

   

West Coast directors and officers are entitled to continued indemnification and insurance coverage under the merger agreement.

For a more complete description of the interests of West Coast directors and executive officers in the merger, see “The Merger—Interests of West Coast’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger.”

No Appraisal Rights (page 50)

We do not expect that shareholders of Columbia or West Coast will have appraisal or dissenters’ rights in connection with any of the proposals to be voted upon at the respective special meetings. Under Oregon law, West Coast shareholders will not be entitled to dissenters’ rights if their shares are registered on a national securities exchange on the record date for the West Coast special meeting. Because shares of West Coast common stock are currently registered on a national securities exchange, and we expect them to continue to be so registered until the completion of the merger, we do not expect that holders of West Coast common stock will be entitled to dissenters’ rights under Oregon law. If for any reason West Coast’s common stock is not registered on a national securities exchange on the West Coast special meeting record date, then Oregon law would provide for dissenters’ rights of appraisal. For more information on dissenters’ rights, see “The Merger—Dissenting Shares.”

Regulatory Matters (page 51)

Each of Columbia and West Coast has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all regulatory approvals required to complete the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. These approvals include approval from the Federal Reserve Board and the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, among others. Columbia and West Coast have filed, or are in the process of filing, applications and notifications to obtain these regulatory approvals. There can be no assurances that such approvals will be received on a timely basis, or as to the ability of Columbia and West Coast to obtain the approvals on satisfactory terms or the absence of litigation challenging such approvals. See “The Merger—Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger.”

Conditions to Completion of the Merger (page 100)

Currently, Columbia and West Coast expect to complete the merger in the [first quarter of 2013]. As more fully described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus and in the merger agreement, the completion of the merger depends on a number of conditions being satisfied or, where legally permissible, waived. We cannot provide assurance as to when or if all of the conditions to the merger can or will be satisfied or waived by the appropriate party.

Termination of the Merger Agreement (page 101)

The merger agreement can be terminated at any time prior to completion of the merger by mutual consent, or by either party in the following circumstances:

 

   

a governmental entity that must grant a required regulatory approval has denied approval and such denial has become final and non-appealable, or an injunction or legal prohibition against the transaction becomes final and non-appealable;

 

   

the merger has not been consummated by July 1, 2013, or under certain circumstances, October 1, 2013 (unless the failure of the closing to occur by such date is due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate the merger agreement to perform or observe its covenants and agreements);

 

 

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the other party breaches any of its covenants or agreements or representations or warranties under the merger agreement in a manner that would cause the closing conditions not to be satisfied and which is not cured within 30 days following written notice to the party committing the breach, or the breach, by its nature, cannot be cured within such time (provided that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or other agreement contained in the merger agreement); or

 

   

either Columbia’s shareholders or West Coast’s shareholders fail to approve the Share Issuance proposal or the Merger proposal, respectively, provided that the failure to obtain such shareholder approval was not caused by the terminating party’s material breach of any of its obligations under the merger agreement.

The merger agreement may be terminated by Columbia if West Coast’s board of directors submits the merger agreement to its shareholders without a recommendation for approval, or withdraws or materially and adversely modifies its recommendation with respect to the merger agreement or recommends a Company Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the merger agreement) other than the merger.

The merger agreement may be terminated by West Coast in order to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a Company Superior Proposal (as defined in the merger agreement).

The merger agreement may be terminated by West Coast, in the event that (1) the Purchaser Average Closing Price is less than $15.55, and (2) the number obtained by dividing the Purchaser Average Closing Price by $18.85 is less than the number obtained by (i) dividing the average closing price of the Keefe Bruyette & Woods Regional Banking Index during the twenty day period ending on the date that is five business days prior to the closing date of the merger by $57.31 and then (ii) multiplying the quotient so obtained by 0.825, provided that Columbia may elect to adjust the merger consideration by increasing the total cash amount dollar for dollar by the amount of the difference between (A) the product of 12,809,525 multiplied by $15.55 and (B) the total stock consideration.

Expenses and Termination Fees (page 101)

Expenses

Except for the registration fee and other fees paid to the SEC in connection with the merger, which will be paid by Columbia, and the termination fees, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the merger (including the costs and expense of printing and mailing this joint proxy statement/prospectus) will be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses.

West Coast Termination Fee

West Coast is required to pay Columbia a termination fee of $20,000,000 if:

 

  (i) the merger agreement is terminated by West Coast in order to enter into a definitive agreement providing for a Company Superior Proposal; or

 

  (ii) prior to the time West Coast shareholders have approved the merger agreement, any person makes a Company Acquisition Proposal which proposal has been publicly announced, disclosed or proposed and not withdrawn, and the merger agreement is subsequently terminated:

 

   

by either party because the merger agreement has not been consummated by July 1, 2013 (or October 1, 2013, if extended in certain circumstances), without the approval by West Coast’s shareholders of the merger agreement having been obtained, and such failure to obtain shareholder approval is the only condition to closing that is unsatisfied;

 

 

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by either party because West Coast’s shareholders fail to approve the merger agreement at the West Coast special meeting or any adjournment thereof;

 

   

by Columbia for West Coast’s breach of any of its covenants or agreements under the merger agreement in a manner that would cause the closing conditions not to be satisfied and which is not cured during the applicable cure period; or

 

   

by Columbia because West Coast or the board of directors of West Coast submits the merger agreement to its shareholders without a recommendation for approval, or otherwise withdraws or materially and adversely modifies its recommendation, or recommends to its shareholders a Company Acquisition Proposal other than the merger;

and (in the case of clause (ii)), within 12 months after such termination for any of the reasons listed above, a Company Acquisition Proposal (substituting 100% for 24.9% in the definition of such term) is consummated or a definitive agreement with respect thereto is entered into.

Columbia Termination Fee

Columbia will be required to pay West Coast a termination fee of $5,000,000 if the merger agreement is terminated:

 

   

by either party because Columbia’s shareholders fail to approve the share issuance proposal at the Columbia special meeting or any adjournment thereof; or

 

   

by either party if a required regulatory approval has been denied and such denial has become final and non-appealable or an injunction or legal prohibition has become final and non-appealable (as described above), or the merger is not consummated on or before July 1, 2013 (or October 1, 2013, if extended in certain circumstances) and at the time of such termination the required regulatory approvals have not been obtained, in each case for reasons solely attributable to Columbia.

Matters to Be Considered at the Meetings (pages 122 and 127)

Columbia

Columbia shareholders will be asked to vote on the following proposals:

 

   

to approve the issuance of shares of Columbia common stock in connection with the merger (the “Share Issuance” proposal); and

 

   

to approve one or more adjournments of the Columbia special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including adjournments to solicit additional proxies in favor of the Share Issuance proposal (the “Columbia Adjournment” proposal).

Approval of the Share Issuance Proposal is Required for the Completion of the Merger.

The Columbia board of directors recommends that Columbia shareholders vote “FOR” the proposals set forth above. For further discussion of the Columbia special meeting, see “Columbia Special Meeting of Shareholders.”

West Coast

West Coast shareholders will be asked to vote on the following proposals:

 

   

to approve the merger agreement (the “Merger” proposal);

 

   

to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation to be paid to West Coast’s named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the merger (the “Merger-Related Named Executive Officer Compensation” proposal); and

 

 

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to approve one or more adjournments of the West Coast special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including adjournments to permit further solicitation of proxies in favor of the Merger proposal (the “West Coast Adjournment” proposal).

Approval of the Merger Proposal is Required for the Completion of the Merger.

The West Coast board of directors recommends that West Coast shareholders vote “FOR” the proposals set forth above. For further discussion of the West Coast special meeting, see “West Coast Special Meeting of Shareholders.”

Rights of West Coast Shareholders Will Change as a Result of the Merger (page 113)

The rights of West Coast shareholders are governed by Oregon law and by West Coast’s articles of incorporation and bylaws. The rights of Columbia shareholders are governed by Washington law and by Columbia’s articles of incorporation and bylaws. Upon the completion of the merger, there will no longer be any publicly held shares of West Coast common stock. West Coast shareholders will no longer have any direct interest in West Coast. Those West Coast shareholders receiving shares of Columbia common stock as merger consideration will only participate in the combined company’s future earnings and potential growth through their ownership of Columbia common stock. All of the other incidents of direct stock ownership in West Coast will be extinguished upon completion of the merger. The rights of former West Coast shareholders that become Columbia shareholders will be governed by Washington law and Columbia’s articles of incorporation and bylaws. Therefore, West Coast shareholders that receive Columbia common stock in the merger will have different rights once they become Columbia shareholders. See “Comparison of Rights of Holders of West Coast Common Stock and Columbia Common Stock.”

Litigation Related to the Merger (page 105)

Certain litigation is pending in connection with the merger. See “Litigation Related to the Merger” beginning on page 105.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this document, including Columbia’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and West Coast’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, and the matters addressed under the caption “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” West Coast shareholders should consider the matters described below carefully in determining whether to vote to approve the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, and Columbia shareholders should consider the matters described below carefully in determining whether to vote to approve the issuance of shares of Columbia common stock in the merger.

Risk Factors Relating to the Merger

Because the market price of Columbia common stock may fluctuate, you cannot be sure of the value of the merger consideration that you will receive.

Upon completion of the merger, each share of West Coast common stock (other than certain shares owned by West Coast, Columbia or their wholly-owned subsidiaries) will be converted into the right to receive merger consideration consisting of shares of Columbia common stock or cash, or a unit consisting of a mix of Columbia common stock and cash, pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement. The value of the merger consideration to be received by West Coast shareholders will be based on the volume weighted average price of Columbia common stock during the twenty trading day period beginning on the twenty fifth day before the effective time of the merger. This average price may vary from the closing price of Columbia common stock on the date we announced the merger, on the date that this document was mailed to Columbia shareholders and West Coast shareholders, and on the date of the meetings of the Columbia and West Coast shareholders. Any change in the market price of Columbia common stock prior to completion of the merger will affect the value of the merger consideration that West Coast shareholders will receive upon completion of the merger. Accordingly, at the time of the West Coast special meeting and prior to the election deadline, West Coast shareholders will not know or be able to calculate the amount of the cash consideration they would receive or the exchange ratio used to determine the number of any shares of Columbia common stock they would receive upon completion of the merger. Stock price changes may result from a variety of factors, including general market and economic conditions, changes in our respective businesses, operations and prospects, and regulatory considerations, among other things. Many of these factors are beyond the control of Columbia and West Coast. West Coast shareholders should obtain current market quotations for shares of Columbia common stock before voting their shares at the West Coast special meeting.

West Coast shareholders may receive a form of consideration different from what they elect.

Although each West Coast shareholder may elect to receive all cash or all Columbia common stock in the merger, or a unit consisting of a mix of cash and stock, the pools of cash and Columbia common stock to be paid in the merger are fixed. As a result, if either the aggregate cash or stock elections exceed the maximum available, and you choose the consideration election that exceeds the maximum available, some or all of your consideration may be in a form that you did not choose.

We may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the merger.

The success of the merger will depend, in part, on our ability to successfully combine the Columbia and West Coast organizations. If we are not able to achieve this objective, the anticipated benefits of the merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer than expected to be realized.

Columbia and West Coast have operated and, until the completion of the merger, will continue to operate, independently. It is possible that the integration process or other factors could result in the loss or departure of key employees, the disruption of the ongoing business of West Coast or inconsistencies in standards, controls,

 

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procedures and policies. It is also possible that clients, customers, depositors and counterparties of West Coast could choose to discontinue their relationships with the combined company post-merger because they prefer doing business with an independent company or for any other reason, which would adversely affect the future performance of the combined company. These transition matters could have an adverse effect on each of Columbia and West Coast during the pre-merger period and for an undetermined time after the completion of the merger.

The results of operations of Columbia after the merger may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the results of operations of Columbia and West Coast.

The businesses of Columbia and West Coast differ in certain respects and, accordingly, the results of operations of the combined company and the market price of the combined company’s common stock may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the independent results of operations of Columbia and West Coast. For a discussion of the business of Columbia and certain factors to be considered in connection with Columbia’s business, see “Information Concerning Columbia” and the documents incorporated by reference in this document and referred to under “Where You Can Find More Information”. For a discussion of the business of West Coast and certain factors to be considered in connection with West Coast’s business, see “Information Concerning West Coast” and the documents incorporated by reference in this document and referred to under “Where You Can Find More Information”.

The merger agreement limits West Coast’s ability to pursue an alternative transaction and requires West Coast to pay a termination fee of $20,000,000 under certain circumstances relating to alternative acquisition proposals.

The merger agreement prohibits West Coast from soliciting, initiating, encouraging or knowingly facilitating certain alternative acquisition proposals with any third party, subject to exceptions set forth in the merger agreement. See “The Merger Agreement—No Solicitation” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The merger agreement also provides for the payment by West Coast to Columbia of a termination fee of $20,000,000 in the event that the merger agreement is terminated in certain circumstances, involving, among others, certain changes in the recommendation of West Coast’s board of directors, a failure of West Coast’s shareholders to approve the merger agreement or the termination of the merger agreement in certain circumstances followed by an acquisition of West Coast by a third party. These provisions may discourage a potential competing acquiror that might have an interest in acquiring West Coast from considering or proposing such an acquisition. It should be noted, however, that the failure of West Coast shareholders to approve the merger agreement will not in and of itself trigger West Coast’s obligation to pay the termination fee, unless other factors, including a third-party acquisition proposal for West Coast made prior to the West Coast special meeting, also exist. See “The Merger Agreement—Termination; Termination Fee” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

The fairness opinions that Columbia and West Coast have obtained from KBW and Sandler O’Neill, respectively, have not been, and are not expected to be, updated to reflect any changes in circumstances that may have occurred since the signing of the merger agreement.

The fairness opinions issued to Columbia and West Coast by KBW and Sandler O’Neill, which are Columbia’s and West Coast’s respective financial advisors, regarding the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be paid in connection with the merger, speak only as of September 25, 2012. Changes in the operations and prospects of Columbia or West Coast, general market and economic conditions and other factors which may be beyond the control of Columbia and West Coast, and on which the fairness opinions were based, may have altered the value of Columbia or West Coast or the market prices of shares of Columbia or West Coast as of the date of this document, or may alter such values and market prices by the time the merger is completed. KBW and Sandler O’Neill do not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm their respective opinions to reflect subsequent developments, and have not done so. Because West Coast and Columbia do not currently anticipate asking their respective financial advisors to update their opinions, the opinions will not

 

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address the fairness of the merger consideration from a financial point of view at the time the merger is completed. West Coast’s board of directors’ recommendation that West Coast shareholders vote “FOR” approval of the merger agreement and Columbia’s Board of Directors’ recommendation that Columbia shareholders vote “FOR” approval of the stock issuance, however, is made as of the date of this document. For a description of the opinions that Columbia and West Coast received from their respective financial advisors, see “Opinion of Columbia Financial Advisor” and “Opinion of West Coast’s Financial Advisor” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

The merger is subject to the receipt of consents and approvals from governmental entities that may impose conditions that could have an adverse effect on the combined company following the merger.

Before the merger may be completed, various approvals and consents must be obtained from the Federal Reserve Board, the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services and various other securities, antitrust, and other regulatory authorities. These governmental entities may impose conditions on the granting of such approvals and consents. Although Columbia and West Coast do not currently expect that any such material conditions or changes would be imposed, there can be no assurance that they will not be, and such conditions or changes could have the effect of delaying completion of the merger or imposing additional costs or limiting the revenues of the combined company following the merger, any of which might have an adverse effect on the combined company following the merger. In addition, each of Columbia and West Coast has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to avoid or overcome impediments to completing the merger, including, among other things, making expenditures and incurring costs, raising capital, divesting or otherwise disposing of businesses or assets, and effecting the dissolution, internal merger or consolidation of subsidiaries or enhancing internal controls. Such actions may entail costs and may adversely affect Columbia, West Coast, or the combined company following the merger.

The merger is subject to certain closing conditions that, if not satisfied or waived, will result in the merger not being completed, which may cause the prices of Columbia common stock or West Coast common stock to decline.

The merger is subject to customary conditions to closing, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals and approvals of the Columbia and West Coast shareholders. If any condition to the merger is not satisfied or waived, to the extent permitted by law, the merger will not be completed. In addition, Columbia and West Coast may terminate the merger agreement under certain circumstances even if the merger agreement is approved by West Coast shareholders and the issuance of Columbia common stock in connection with the merger is approved by Columbia shareholders. If Columbia and West Coast do not complete the merger, the trading prices of Columbia common stock or West Coast common stock may decline to the extent that the current prices reflect a market assumption that the merger will be completed. In addition, neither company would realize any of the expected benefits of having completed the merger. If the merger is not completed and West Coast’s board of directors seeks another merger or business combination, West Coast shareholders cannot be certain that West Coast will be able to find a party willing to offer equivalent or more attractive consideration than the consideration Columbia has agreed to provide in the merger. If the merger is not completed, additional risks could materialize, which could materially and adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of Columbia or West Coast. For more information on closing conditions to the merger agreement, see “The Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Merger” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

The combined company expects to incur substantial expenses related to the merger.

The combined company expects to incur substantial expenses in connection with completing the merger and combining the business, operations, networks, systems, technologies, policies and procedures of the two companies. Although Columbia and West Coast have assumed that a certain level of transaction and combination expenses would be incurred, there are a number of factors beyond their control that could affect the total amount or the timing of their combination expenses. Many of the expenses that will be incurred, by their nature, are difficult to estimate accurately at the present time. Due to these factors, the transaction and combination expenses

 

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associated with the merger could, particularly in the near term, exceed the savings that the combined company expects to achieve from the elimination of duplicative expenses and the realization of economies of scale and cost savings related to the combination of the businesses following the completion of the merger. As a result of these expenses, both Columbia and West Coast expect to take charges against their earnings before and after the completion of the merger. The charges taken in connection with the merger are expected to be significant, although the aggregate amount and timing of such charges are uncertain at present.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included in this document is preliminary and the actual financial condition and results of operations after the merger may differ materially.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information in this document is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of what Columbia’s actual financial condition or results of operations would have been had the merger been completed on the dates indicated. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects adjustments, which are based upon preliminary estimates, to record the West Coast identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value and the resulting goodwill recognized. The purchase price allocation reflected in this document is preliminary, and final allocation of the purchase price will be based upon the actual purchase price and the fair value of the assets and liabilities of West Coast as of the date of the completion of the merger. Accordingly, the final acquisition accounting adjustments may differ materially from the pro forma adjustments reflected in this document. For more information, see “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” beginning on page 29.

Shares of Columbia common stock to be received by West Coast shareholders as a result of the merger will have rights different from the shares of West Coast common stock.

Upon completion of the merger, the rights of former West Coast shareholders who receive Columbia common stock in the merger and thereby become Columbia shareholders will be governed by the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Columbia. The rights associated with West Coast common stock are different from the rights associated with Columbia common stock. In addition, the rights of shareholders under Washington law, where Columbia is organized, may differ from the rights of shareholders under Oregon law, where West Coast is organized. See “Comparison of Rights of Holders of Columbia and West Coast Common Stock” beginning on page 112 for a discussion of the different rights associated with Columbia common stock.

Columbia has various provisions in its articles of incorporation that could impede a takeover of Columbia.

Columbia’s restated articles of incorporation contain provisions providing for, among other things, preferred stock, super majority approval of certain business transactions, and consideration of non-monetary factors in evaluating a takeover offer. Although these provisions were not adopted for the express purpose of preventing or impeding the takeover of Columbia without the approval of the Columbia board of directors, such provisions may have that effect. Such provisions may prevent former West Coast shareholders who receive shares of Columbia common stock in the merger from taking part in a transaction in which such shareholders could realize a premium over the current market price of Columbia common stock. See “Comparison of Rights of Holders of Columbia and West Coast Common Stock,” beginning on page 113.

 

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Certain West Coast directors and officers may have interests in the merger different from the interests of West Coast shareholders.

In considering the recommendations of the board of directors of West Coast, West Coast shareholders should be aware that certain directors and executive officers of West Coast have interests in the merger that may differ from, or may be in addition to, the interests of West Coast shareholders generally. The board of directors of West Coast was aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, when it adopted the merger agreement and in making its recommendations that the West Coast shareholders approve the Merger proposal. These interests include:

 

   

In accordance with the merger agreement, one of the directors of West Coast will be recommended to serve on Columbia’s board of directors and the board of directors of Columbia State Bank following the merger;

 

   

Certain of West Coast’s executive officers are party to change in control agreements that provide severance and other benefits following a change in control of West Coast in connection with a qualifying termination of employment and if such termination of employment occurred immediately following the merger, the executive officers with change in control agreements with West Coast would be entitled to receive severance payments and benefits equal to $3,416,461 for the five executive officers who are party to a change in control agreement and excise tax gross-ups for Mr. Sznewajs of $711,619 and for Mr. Bygland of $323,397.

 

   

Hadley Robbins and Xandra McKeown, both of whom are executive officers of West Coast, entered into employment agreements with Columbia (replacing existing change in control agreements with West Coast) that become effective upon the completion of the merger and pursuant to such employment agreements, if their employment is terminated (in a qualifying termination of employment) immediately following the effective time of the merger, they would be entitled to severance payments and benefits equal to $560,427 and $569,137 respectively, with Mr. Robbins also being entitled to a 280G excise tax gross-up that is equal to $454,828;

 

   

Accelerated vesting of restricted shares of West Coast common stock held by West Coast’s executive officers and non-employee directors with a total aggregate value (based on the average closing price of West Coast common stock over the first five business days following the public announcement of the merger) equal to approximately $955,000;

 

   

Accelerated vesting and, in most instances, payment of the supplemental executive retirement plans entered into with certain West Coast executive officers, with an aggregate acceleration value of $979,867 for all of the West Coast executive officers who participate in the supplemental executive retirement plan; and

 

   

West Coast directors and officers are entitled to continued indemnification and insurance coverage under the merger agreement.

For a more complete description of the interests of West Coast directors and executive officers in the merger, see “The Merger—Interests of West Coast’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger.”

Risk Factors Relating to West Coast and West Coast’s Business

West Coast is, and will continue to be, subject to the risks described in West Coast’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, as updated by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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Risk Factors Relating to Columbia and Columbia’s Business

Columbia is, and will continue to be, subject to the risks described in Columbia’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, as updated by subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF COLUMBIA

The following selected consolidated financial information for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2011 is derived from audited financial statements of Columbia. The financial information of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are derived from unaudited financial statements, has been prepared on the same basis as the historical information derived from audited financial statements and, in the opinion of Columbia’s management, reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this data for those dates. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2012. You should read this information in conjunction with Columbia’s consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in Columbia’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and in Columbia’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, which are incorporated by reference in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2012
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2011
    Years Ended December 31,  
        2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
    (dollars in thousands except per share)  

For the Period

             

Interest income

  $ 191,295      $ 176,352      $ 251,271      $ 185,879      $ 143,035      $ 175,060      $ 184,217   

Interest expense

  $ 7,266      $ 11,740      $ 14,535      $ 21,092      $ 27,683      $ 55,547      $ 75,397   

Net interest income

  $ 184,029      $ 164,612      $ 236,736      $ 164,787      $ 115,352      $ 119,513      $ 108,820   

Provision for loan and lease losses, excluding covered loans

  $ 11,125      $ 2,650      $ 7,400      $ 41,291      $ 63,500      $ 41,176      $ 3,605   

Noninterest income (loss)

  $ 20,491      $ 319      $ (9,283   $ 52,781      $ 29,690      $ 14,850      $ 27,748   

Noninterest expense

  $ 125,113      $ 114,445      $ 155,759      $ 137,147      $ 94,488      $ 92,125      $ 88,829   

Net income (loss)

  $ 32,681      $ 33,283      $ 48,037      $ 30,784      $ (3,968   $ 5,968      $ 32,381   

Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

  $ 32,681      $ 33,283      $ 48,037      $ 25,837      $ (8,371   $ 5,498      $ 32,381   

Per Common Share

             

Earnings (loss) (Basic)

  $ 0.82      $ 0.84      $ 1.22      $ 0.73      $ (0.38   $ 0.30      $ 1.91   

Earnings (loss) (Diluted)

  $ 0.82      $ 0.84      $ 1.21      $ 0.72      $ (0.38   $ 0.30      $ 1.89   

Cash dividends declared per common share

  $ 0.89      $ 0.14      $ 0.27      $ 0.04      $ 0.07      $ 0.58      $ 0.66   

Book Value

  $ 19.20      $ 18.99      $ 19.23      $ 17.97      $ 16.13      $ 18.82      $ 19.03   

Averages

             

Total assets

  $ 4,797,543      $ 4,426,037      $ 4,509,010      $ 4,248,590      $ 3,084,421      $ 3,134,054      $ 2,837,162   

Interest-earning assets

  $ 4,199,125      $ 3,794,865      $ 3,871,424      $ 3,583,728      $ 2,783,862      $ 2,851,555      $ 2,599,379   

Loans, including covered loans

  $ 2,891,688      $ 2,536,492      $ 2,607,266      $ 2,485,650      $ 2,124,574      $ 2,264,486      $ 1,990,622   

Securities

  $ 1,012,716      $ 919,173      $ 928,891      $ 720,152      $ 584,028      $ 565,299      $ 581,122   

Deposits

  $ 3,829,640      $ 3,457,227      $ 3,541,399      $ 3,270,923      $ 2,378,176      $ 2,382,484      $ 2,242,134   

Core deposits

  $ 3,555,936      $ 3,132,963      $ 3,218,425      $ 2,828,246      $ 1,945,039      $ 1,911,897      $ 1,887,391   

Shareholders’ equity

  $ 760,217      $ 721,638      $ 730,726      $ 668,469      $ 462,127      $ 354,387      $ 289,297   

Financial Ratios

             

Net interest margin

    5.99     5.96     6.27     4.76     4.33     4.38     4.35

Return on average assets

    0.91     1.01     1.07     0.72     (0.13 )%      0.19     1.14

Return on average common equity

    5.74     6.17     6.57     4.15     (2.16 )%      1.59     11.19

Efficiency ratio (tax equivalent) (1)

    69.47     68.62     70.68     67.56     61.53     59.88     61.33

Average equity to average assets

    15.85     16.30     16.21     15.73     14.98     11.31     10.20

At Period End

             

Total assets

  $ 4,903,049      $ 4,755,832      $ 4,785,945      $ 4,256,363      $ 3,200,930      $ 3,097,079      $ 3,178,713   

Covered assets, net

  $ 445,797      $ 595,640      $ 560,055      $ 531,504        —          —          —     

Loans, excluding covered loans

  $ 2,476,844      $ 2,257,899      $ 2,348,371      $ 1,915,754      $ 2,008,884      $ 2,232,332      $ 2,282,728   

Allowance for noncovered loan and lease losses

  $ 51,527      $ 50,422      $ 53,041      $ 60,993      $ 53,478      $ 42,747      $ 26,599   

Securities

  $ 965,641      $ 1,018,069      $ 1,050,325      $ 781,774      $ 631,645      $ 540,525      $ 572,973   

Deposits

  $ 3,938,855      $ 3,795,499      $ 3,815,529      $ 3,327,269      $ 2,482,705      $ 2,382,151      $ 2,498,061   

Core deposits

  $ 3,685,844      $ 3,464,705      $ 3,510,435      $ 2,998,482      $ 2,072,821      $ 1,941,047      $ 1,996,393   

Shareholders’ equity

  $ 761,977      $ 749,966      $ 759,338      $ 706,878      $ 528,139      $ 415,385      $ 341,731   

Nonperforming Assets, Excluding Covered Assets

             

Nonaccrual loans

  $ 41,589      $ 55,183      $ 53,483      $ 89,163      $ 110,431      $ 106,163      $ 14,005   

Other real estate owned and other personal property owned

    11,749        34,069        31,905        30,991        19,037        2,874        181   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total nonperforming assets, excluding covered assets

  $ 53,338      $ 89,252      $ 85,388      $ 120,154      $ 129,468      $ 109,037      $ 14,186   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2012
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2011
    Years Ended December 31,  
        2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
    (dollars in thousands except per share)  

Nonperforming loans to year end loans, excluding covered loans

    1.68     2.44     2.28     4.65     5.50     4.76     0.61

Nonperforming assets to year end assets, excluding covered assets

    1.20     2.15     2.02     3.23     4.04     3.52     0.45

Allowance for loan and lease losses to year end loans, excluding covered loans

    2.08     2.23     2.26     3.18     2.66     1.91     1.17

Allowance for loan and lease losses to nonperforming loans, excluding covered loans

    123.90     91.37     99.17     68.41     48.43     40.27     189.93

Net loan charge-offs

  $ 12,639      $ 13,221      $ 15,352      $ 33,776      $ 52,769      $ 25,028      $ 380   

Risk-Based Capital Ratios

             

Total capital

    20.75     21.87     21.05     24.47     19.60     14.25     10.90

Tier 1 capital

    19.49     20.61     19.79     23.20     18.34     12.99     9.87

Leverage ratio

    12.80     12.87     12.96     13.99     14.33     11.27     8.54

 

(1) Noninterest expense, excluding net cost of operation of other real estate, FDIC clawback liability expense and merger related expenses, divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income on a tax equivalent basis, excluding gain/loss on sale of investment securities, impairment charge on investment securities, gain on bank acquisition, incremental accretion income on the acquired loan portfolio and the change in FDIC loss-sharing asset. The tax equivalent basis was derived using Columbia’s estimated statutory rate of 35%.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF WEST COAST

The following selected consolidated financial information for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 through December 31, 2011 is derived from audited financial statements of West Coast. The financial information of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 are derived from unaudited financial statements, has been prepared on the same basis as the historical information derived from audited financial statements and, in the opinion of West Coast’s management, reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this data for those dates. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2012. You should read this information in conjunction with West Coast’s consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in West Coast’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and in West Coast’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, which are incorporated by reference in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)   As of and For the
Nine Months ended
September 30,
    As of and For the Year ended December 31,  
    2012     2011     2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  

Interest income

  $ 68,900      $ 74,743      $ 98,675      $ 105,576      $ 112,150      $ 140,846      $ 183,190   

Interest expense

    3,307        11,929        17,921        22,269        33,423        48,696        68,470   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net interest income

    65,593        62,814        80,754        83,307        78,727        92,150        114,720   

Provision (benefit) for credit losses

    (996     6,634        8,133        18,652        90,057        40,367        38,956   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net interest income (loss) after provision for credit losses

    66,589        56,180        72,621        64,655        (11,330     51,783        75,764   

Noninterest income

    24,553        25,400        31,819        32,697        9,129        24,629        33,498   

Noninterest expense

    63,808        68,131        90,875        90,337        108,288        90,323        85,299   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    27,334        13,449        13,565        7,015        (110,489     (13,911     23,963   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    9,567        (2,566     (20,212     3,790        (19,276     (7,598     7,121   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  $ 17,767      $ 16,015      $ 33,777      $ 3,225      $ (91,213   $ (6,313   $ 16,842   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis 2

  $ 66,427      $ 63,647      $ 81,870      $ 84,478      $ 80,222      $ 93,901      $ 116,361   

Per share data:

             

Basic earnings (loss) per share

  $ 0.87      $ 0.78      $ 1.65      $ 0.16      $ (29.15   $ (2.05   $ 5.40   

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

  $ 0.82      $ 0.75      $ 1.58      $ 0.16      $ (29.15   $ (2.05   $ 5.20   

Cash dividends declared

  $ 0.05      $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 0.10      $ 1.45      $ 2.55   

Period end book value per common share

  $ 16.32      $ 14.28      $ 15.20      $ 13.04      $ 35.10      $ 63.15      $ 66.75   

Weighted average common shares outstanding

    19,077        18,999        19,007        17,460        3,102        3,094        3,101   

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

    20,225        19,951        19,940        18,059        3,102        3,094        3,209   

Total assets

  $ 2,475,980      $ 2,521,247      $ 2,429,887      $ 2,461,059      $ 2,733,547      $ 2,516,140      $ 2,646,614   

Total deposits

  $ 1,929,292      $ 1,990,778      $ 1,915,569      $ 1,940,522      $ 2,146,884      $ 2,024,379      $ 2,094,832   

Total long-term borrowings

  $ 178,900      $ 181,281      $ 120,000      $ 168,599      $ 250,699      $ 91,059      $ 83,100   

Total loans, net

  $ 1,459,310      $ 1,467,310      $ 1,466,089      $ 1,496,053      $ 1,686,352      $ 2,035,876      $ 2,125,752   

Stockholders’ equity

  $ 335,996      $ 296,867      $ 314,479      $ 272,560      $ 249,058      $ 198,187      $ 208,241   

Financial ratios:

             

Return on average assets

    0.99     0.87     1.37     0.13     -3.49     -0.25     0.66

Return on average equity

    7.32     7.58     11.79     1.21     -45.66     -3.06     7.93

Average equity to average assets

    13.47     11.46     11.64     10.32     7.64     8.04     8.37

Dividend payout ratio

    0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     -0.34     -70.73     47.51

Efficiency ratio 1

    70.42     76.96     80.44     78.14     122.34     72.79     56.90

Net loans to assets

    58.94     58.20     60.34     60.79     61.69     80.91     80.33

Average yields earned 2

    4.12     4.34     4.29     4.40     4.71     5.92     7.72

Average rates paid

    0.31     1.01     1.15     1.27     1.76     2.60     3.76

Net interest spread 2

    3.81     3.33     3.14     3.13     2.95     3.32     3.96

Net interest margin 2

    3.92     3.65     3.52     3.48     3.33     3.90     4.86

Nonperforming assets to total assets

    2.19     3.30     2.94     4.09     5.59     7.86     1.12

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

    2.11     2.42     2.35     2.62     2.23     1.40     2.16

Allowance for credit losses to total loans

    2.17     2.46     2.40     2.67     2.29     1.45     2.53

Net loan charge-offs to average loans

    0.24     0.94     0.8 7     1.05     4.21     3.04     0.34

Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans

    99.64     70.02     88.63     67.07     39.68     23.46     207.75

Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans

    97.07     68.69     86.73     65.68     38.74     22.67     177.53

 

1. The efficiency ratio has been computed as noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income on a tax equivalent basis and noninterest income excluding gains/losses on sales of securities.
2. Interest earned on nontaxable securities has been computed on a 35% tax equivalent basis.

 

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3. Non-performing loan components are comprised of loans on non-accrual status (inclusive of non-accruing TDRs), plus any loans past due 90 days or more still on accrual. Accruing TDRs are not included in the non-performing loan calculation. West Coast’s rationale for this is that West Coast’s policy for moving non-performing TDRs to accrual status requires payment performance (typically six consecutive months), coupled with a reasonable assurance such performance will continue (as validated by current financial information).

 

As of 9/30/12:

  

Loans 90 days P/D on accrual

     $     0   

Nonaccrual TDRs

   $ 17.0mm   

Other nonaccrual loans

   $ 15.4mm   
  

 

 

 

Total nonperforming loans

   $ 32.4mm   

 

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SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

The following table shows selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information about the financial condition and results of operations of Columbia giving effect to the merger with West Coast. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information assumes that the merger is accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting with Columbia treated as the acquirer. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets and liabilities of West Coast, as of the effective date of the merger, will be recorded by Columbia at their respective fair values and the excess of the merger consideration over the fair value of West Coast’s net assets will be allocated to goodwill.

The table sets forth the information as if the merger had become effective on September 30, 2012, with respect to financial condition data, and on January 1, 2011, with respect to the results of operations data. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data has been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, including the notes thereto, which is included in this joint proxy statement/prospectus under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.”

The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily indicate the financial results of the combined companies had the companies actually been combined at the beginning of the period presented. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also does not consider any potential impacts of current market conditions on revenues, potential revenue enhancements, anticipated cost savings and expense efficiencies, or asset dispositions, among other factors. Further, as explained in more detail in the notes accompanying the more detailed unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information included under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information,” the pro forma allocation of purchase price reflected in the selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is subject to adjustment and may vary from the actual purchase price allocation that will be recorded at the time the merger is completed. Additionally, the adjustments made in the unaudited pro forma condensed financial information, which are described in those notes, are preliminary and may be revised.

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)    For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2012
     For the Year Ended
December 31, 2011
 

Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Income Statement Information:

     

Net interest income

   $ 258,939       $ 329,839   

Provision for loan losses

     33,510         13,885   

Income before income taxes

     81,063         88,643   

Net income

     56,186         87,752   

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)    As of September 30, 2012  

Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Information:

  

Loans

   $ 4,270,832   

Total assets

     7,250,863   

Deposits

     5,868,221   

Borrowings

     240,980   

Shareholders’ equity

     1,003,437   

 

     For the Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2012
     For the Year Ended
December 31, 2011
 

Per Common Share

     

Earnings (Basic)

   $ 1.08       $ 1.69   

Earnings (Diluted)

     1.08         1.69   

Cash dividends declared per common share

     0.89         0.27   

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and explanatory notes show the impact on the historical financial positions and results of operations of Columbia and West Coast and have been prepared to illustrate the effects of the merger involving Columbia and West Coast under the acquisition method of accounting with Columbia treated as the acquirer. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets and liabilities of West Coast, as of the effective date of the merger, will be recorded by Columbia at their respective fair values and the excess of the merger consideration over the fair value of West Coast’s net assets will be allocated to goodwill. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2012 is presented as if the merger with West Coast had occurred on September 30, 2012. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 are presented as if the merger had occurred on January 1, 2011. The historical consolidated financial information has been adjusted to reflect factually supportable items that are directly attributable to the merger and, with respect to the income statements only, expected to have a continuing impact on consolidated results of operations.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily indicate the financial results of the combined companies had the companies actually been combined at the beginning of the period presented. The adjustments included in these unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are preliminary and may be revised. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information also does not consider any potential impacts of potential revenue enhancements, anticipated cost savings and expense efficiencies, or asset dispositions, among other factors. For the historical income statements of West Coast, amounts related to other real estate owned, which were historically reported in noninterest income by West Coast, have been reclassified to noninterest expense to conform to the presentation in Columbia’s financial statements.

In addition, as explained in more detail in the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, the pro forma allocation of purchase price reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is subject to adjustment and may vary from the actual purchase price allocation that will be recorded at the time the merger is completed. Adjustments may include, but not be limited to, changes in (i) West Coast’s balance sheet through the effective time of the merger; (ii) the aggregate value of merger consideration paid if the price of Columbia’s stock varies from the assumed $18.85 per share; (iii) total merger related expenses if consummation and/or implementation costs vary from currently estimated amounts; and (iv) the underlying values of assets and liabilities if market conditions differ from current assumptions.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are provided for informational purposes only. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are not necessarily, and should not be assumed to be, an indication of the results that would have been achieved had the transaction been completed as of the dates indicated or that may be achieved in the future. The preparation of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and related adjustments required management to make certain assumptions and estimates. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements should be read together with:

 

   

the accompanying notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements;

 

   

Columbia’s separate audited historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in Columbia’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011;

 

   

West Coast’s separate audited historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011, included in West Coast’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011;

 

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Columbia’s separate unaudited historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 included in Columbia’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012;

 

   

West Coast’s separate unaudited historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, included in West Coast’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012; and

 

   

other information pertaining to Columbia and West Coast contained in or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See “Selected Consolidated Financial Data of Columbia” and “Selected Consolidated Financial Data of West Coast” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference” included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of September 30, 2012 presents the consolidated financial position giving pro forma effect to the following transactions as if they had occurred as of September 30, 2012:

 

   

the completion of Columbia’s acquisition of West Coast, including the issuance of 12,809,525 shares of Columbia’s common stock; and

 

   

the repayment of all junior subordinated debentures, including any repayment fee and accrued interest, totaling approximately $51 million.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET AS OF

SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

 

     Columbia
Historical
     West Coast
Historical
     Pro Forma
Merger
Adjustments
    Notes    Pro Forma
Combined
 
     (in thousands)  

ASSETS

             

Cash and cash equivalents

     562,592         101,335         (315,469   A      348,458   

Securities available for sale at fair value

     943,624         792,657         —             1,736,281   

Federal Home Loan Bank stock at cost

     22,017         12,040         —             34,057   

Loans held for sale

     3,600         —           —             3,600   

Loans, excluding covered loans, net of unearned income

     2,476,844         1,490,767         (74,538   B      3,893,073   

Less: allowance for loan and lease losses

     51,527         31,457         (31,457   C      51,527   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Loans, excluding covered loans, net

     2,425,317         1,459,310         (43,081        3,841,546   

Covered loans, net of allowance for loan

     429,286         —           —             429,286   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total loans, net

     2,854,603         1,459,310         (43,081        4,270,832   

FDIC loss-sharing asset

     111,677         —           —             111,677   

Premises and equipment, net

     115,506         22,672         15,000      D      153,178   

Other real estate owned

     27,386         21,939         —             49,325   

Goodwill

     115,554         —           182,409      E      297,963   

Core deposit intangible, net

     16,803         —           15,561      F      32,364   

Other assets

     129,687         66,027         17,414      G      213,128   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 4,903,049       $ 2,475,980       $ (128,166      $ 7,250,863   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

Deposits

     3,938,855         1,929,292         74      H      5,868,221   

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     113,080         127,900         —             240,980   

Junior subordinated debentures

     —           51,000         (51,000   I      —     

Other liabilities

     89,137         31,792         17,296      J      138,225   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     4,141,072         2,139,984         (33,630        6,247,426   

Commitments and contingent liabilities

             

Shareholders’ equity:

             

Preferred stock

     —           21,124         (21,124   K      —     

Common stock

     581,001         231,766         9,694      L      822,461   

Retained earnings

     152,498         71,692         (71,692   M      152,498   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     28,478         11,414         (11,414   N      28,478   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     761,977         335,996         (94,536        1,003,437   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 4,903,049       $ 2,475,980       $ (128,166      $ 7,250,863   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

      

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

 

     Columbia
Historical
    West Coast
Historical
    Pro Forma
Merger
Adjustments
    Notes      Pro Forma
Combined
 
     (in thousands except per share amounts)  

Interest Income

           

Loans

   $ 168,875      $ 56,614      $ 9,317        O       $ 234,806   

Taxable securities

     14,414        10,647        —             25,061   

Tax-exempt securities

     7,442        1,547        —             8,989   

Federal funds sold and deposits in banks

     564        92        —             656   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total interest income

     191,295        68,900        9,317           269,512   

Interest Expense

           

Deposits

     4,679        1,393        —             6,072   

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

     2,229        1,001        —             3,230   

Junior subordinated debentures

     —          913        —             913   

Other borrowings

     358        —          —             358   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total interest expense

     7,266        3,307        —             10,573   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net Interest Income

     184,029        65,593        9,317           258,939   

Provision (recapture) for loan and lease losses

     11,125        (996     —             10,129   

Provision for losses on covered loans

     23,381        —          —             23,381   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses

     149,523        66,589        9,317           225,429   

Noninterest Income

           

Service charges and other fees

     22,222        12,670        —             34,892   

Merchant services fees

     6,167        9,230        —             15,397   

Gain on sale of investment securities, net

     62        375        —             437   

Impairment charge on investment securities

     —          (49     —             (49

Change in FDIC loss-sharing asset

     (14,787     —          —             (14,787

Other

     6,827        4,388        —             11,215   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total noninterest income

     20,491        26,614        —             47,105   

Noninterest Expense

           

Compensation and employee benefits

     64,484        35,058        —             99,542   

Occupancy

     15,310        10,821        288        Q         26,419   

Merchant processing

     2,724        3,342        —             6,066   

Advertising and promotion

     3,342        1,087        —             4,429   

Data processing and communications

     7,263        1,210        —             8,473   

Legal and professional fees

     6,221        2,948        (1,709     R         7,460   

Regulatory premiums

     2,560        —          —             2,560   

Net cost (benefit) of operation of other real estate owned

     (536     2,061        —             1,525   

Amortization of intangibles

     3,362        —          1,910        S         5,272   

FDIC clawback liability

     100        —          —             100   

Other

     20,283        9,342        —             29,625   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total noninterest expense

     125,113        65,869        489           191,471   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     44,901        27,334        8,828           81,063   

Income tax provision

     12,220        9,567        3,090        T         24,877   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 32,681      $ 17,767      $ 5,738         $ 56,186   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

 

Per Common Share

           

Earnings basic

   $ 0.82      $ 0.87           $ 1.08   

Earnings diluted

   $ 0.82      $ 0.82           $ 1.08   

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.89      $ 0.05           $ 0.89   

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     39,248        19,077        (6,267     U         52,058   

Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding

     39,251        20,225        (7,415     V         52,061   

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011

 

    Columbia
Historical
    West Coast
Historical
    Pro Forma
Merger
Adjustments
    Notes     Pro Forma
Combined
 
    (in thousands except per share amounts)  

Interest Income

         

Loans

  $ 218,420      $ 80,237      $ 12,423        O      $ 311,080   

Taxable securities

    21,870        16,177        —            38,047   

Tax-exempt securities

    10,142        2,074        —            12,216   

Federal funds sold and deposits in banks

    839        187        —            1,026   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total interest income

    251,271        98,675        12,423          362,369   

Interest Expense

         

Deposits

    10,478        4,973        74        P        15,525   

Federal Home Loan Bank advances

    2,980        4,630        —            7,610   

Borrowings prepayment charge

    —          7,140        —            7,140   

Junior subordinated debentures

    —          1,178        —            1,178   

Other borrowings

    1,077        —          —            1,077   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total interest expense

    14,535        17,921        74          32,530   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Interest Income

    236,736        80,754        12,349          329,839   

Provision (recapture) for loan and lease losses

    7,400        8,133        —            15,533   

Provision for losses on covered loans

    (1,648     —          —            (1,648
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses

    230,984        72,621        12,349          315,954   

Noninterest Income

         

Service charges and other fees

    26,632        17,856        —            44,488   

Gain on bank acquisitions, net of tax

    1,830        —          —            1,830   

Merchant services fees

    7,385        12,381        —            19,766   

Gain on sale of investment securities, net

    134        713        —            847   

Impairment charge on investment securities

    (2,950     (179     —            (3,129

Change in FDIC loss-sharing asset

    (49,496     —          —            (49,496

Other

    7,182        4,284        —            11,466   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total noninterest income

    (9,283     35,055        —            25,772   

Noninterest Expense

         

Compensation and employee benefits

    81,552        48,587        —            130,139   

Occupancy

    18,963        14,787        384        Q        34,134   

Merchant processing

    3,698        5,141        —            8,839   

Advertising and promotion

    3,686        3,003        —            6,689   

Data processing and communications

    8,484        1,549        —            10,033   

Legal and professional fees

    6,486        4,118        —            10,604   

Regulatory premiums

    4,337        —          —            4,337   

Net cost (benefit) of operation of other real estate owned

    (1,022     3,236        —            2,214   

Amortization of intangibles

    4,319        —          2,829        S        7,148   

FDIC clawback liability

    3,656        —          —            3,656   

Other

    21,600        13,690        —            35,290   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total noninterest expense

    155,759        94,111        3,213          253,083   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

    65,942        13,565        9,136          88,643   

Income tax provision

    17,905        (20,212     3,198        T        891   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Net Income

  $ 48,037      $ 33,777      $ 5,938        $ 87,752   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Per Common Share

         

Earnings basic

  $ 1.22      $ 1.65          $ 1.69   

Earnings diluted

  $ 1.21      $ 1.58          $ 1.69   

Dividends declared per common share

  $ 0.27      $ —            $ 0.27   

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

    39,103        19,007        (6,197     U        51,913   

Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding

    39,180        19,940        (7,415     V        51,990   

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.

 

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Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information

Note 1—Basis of Presentation

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared using the acquisition method of accounting giving effect to the merger involving Columbia and West Coast. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the financial position had the merger been consummated at September 30, 2012 or the results of operations had the merger been consummated at January 1, 2011, nor is it necessarily indicative of the results of operation in future periods or the future financial position of the combined entities. For the historical income statements of West Coast, amounts related to other real estate owned, which were historically reported in noninterest income by West Coast, have been reclassified to noninterest expense to conform to the presentation in Columbia’s financial statements. The merger, which is currently expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013, provides for the issuance of 12,809,525 shares of Columbia common stock and $264.5 million in cash (subject to adjustment in certain circumstances). West Coast shareholders may elect to receive either cash, stock, or a unit consisting of a mix of cash and stock, in an amount equal to such holder’s pro rata share of the total merger consideration. The value of the per share merger consideration would be approximately $23.08 based upon a purchaser average closing price (as defined in the merger agreement) of $18.85.

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets and liabilities of West Coast will be recorded at the respective fair values on the merger date. The fair value on the merger date represents management’s best estimates based on available information and facts and circumstances in existence on the merger date. The pro forma allocation of purchase price reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is subject to adjustment and may vary from the actual purchase price allocation that will be recorded at the time the merger is completed. Adjustments may include, but not be limited to, changes in (i) West Coast’s balance sheet through the effective time of the merger; (ii) the aggregate value of merger consideration paid if the price of Columbia’s stock varies from the assumed $18.85 per share; (iii) total merger related expenses if consummation and/or implementation costs vary from currently estimated amounts; and (iv) the underlying values of assets and liabilities if market conditions differ from current assumptions.

The accounting policies of both Columbia and West Coast are in the process of being reviewed in detail. Upon completion of such review, conforming adjustments or financial statement reclassification may be determined.

Note 2—Estimated Merger and Integration Costs

In connection with the merger, the plan to integrate Columbia’s and West Coast’s operations is still being developed. Over the next several months, the specific details of these plans will continue to be refined. Columbia and West Coast are currently in the process of assessing the two companies’ personnel, benefit plans, premises, equipment, computer systems, supply chain methodologies, and service contracts to determine where they may take advantage of redundancies or where it will be beneficial or necessary to convert to one system. Certain decisions arising from these assessments may involve involuntary termination of West Coast’s employees, vacating West Coast’s leased premises, changing information systems, canceling contracts between West Coast and certain service providers and selling or otherwise disposing of certain premises, furniture and equipment owned by West Coast. Additionally, as part of our formulation of the integration plan, certain actions regarding existing Columbia information systems, premises, equipment, benefit plans, supply chain methodologies, supplier contracts, and involuntary termination of personnel may be taken. Columbia expects to incur merger-related expenses including system conversion costs, employee retention and severance agreements, communications to customers, and others. To the extent there are costs associated with these actions, the costs will be recorded based on the nature and timing of these integration actions. Most acquisition and restructuring costs are recognized separately from a business combination and generally will be expensed as incurred. We estimated the merger related costs to be approximately $30 million and expect they will be incurred primarily in 2013.

 

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Table of Contents

Note 3—Estimated Annual Cost Savings

Columbia expects to realize $21 million in annual pre-tax cost savings following the merger, which management expects to be phased-in over a two-year period, but there is no assurance that the anticipated cost savings will be realized on the anticipated time schedule or at all. These cost savings are not reflected in the presented pro forma financial information.

Note 4—Pro Forma Adjustments

The following pro forma adjustments have been reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information. All taxable adjustments were calculated using a 35% tax rate to arrive at deferred tax asset or liability adjustments. All adjustments are based on current assumptions and valuations, which are subject to change.

 

Balance Sheet      
(dollars in thousands)            

A. Adjustments to cash and cash equivalents

     

To reflect cash used to purchase West Coast

      $ (264,469

To reflect cash used to redeem West Coast junior subordinated debentures

        (51,000
     

 

 

 
      $ (315,469
     

 

 

 

B. Adjustment to loans, excluding covered loans, net of unearned income

     

To reflect estimated fair value at merger date, calculated as 5% of the West Coast loan balance. The adjustment to loans is primarily related to credit deterioration in the acquired loan portfolio. During Columbia’s due diligence on West Coast, Columbia reviewed loan information across collateral types and geographic distributions. Columbia applied traditional examination methodologies to arrive at the fair value adjustment.

      $ (74,538

C. Adjustment to allowance for loan and lease losses

     

To remove West Coast allowance at merger date as the credit risk is contemplated in the fair value adjustment in adjustment B above.

      $ (31,457

D. Adjustment to premises and equipment

     

To reflect estimated fair value of West Coast properties at merger date, based on third-party estimates. The estimated useful life of these properties is 39 years.

      $ 15,000   

E. Adjustment to goodwill

     

To reflect the goodwill associated with the West Coast merger.

      $ 182,409   

F. Adjustment to core deposit intangible, net

     

To record the estimated fair value of acquired identifiable intangible assets, calculated as 1% of West Coast core deposits. Core deposits were identified as the demand, savings, money market accounts and certificates of deposit under $100,000. Although a core deposit study was not performed for the West Coast merger, the fair value adjustment of 1% was determined to be appropriate based on the valuation methodology utilized for Columbia’s prior acquisitions taken in conjunction with a review of West Coast’s historical deposit trends. A more detailed analysis will be completed upon closing of the merger. The acquired core deposit intangible will be amortized over 10 years using a sum-of-the-years-digits method. The estimated 10 year life was validated through review of the core deposit intangible lives utilized by our industry peers. The lives utilized by industry peers ranged from 5.5 to 15 years with an average of 9.25 years. Columbia felt the resiliency exhibited by West Coast’s deposit base over the past 5 years warranted a higher life than the average estimated useful life.

      $ 15,561   

 

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Table of Contents

G. Adjustment to other assets

    

To reflect deferred tax asset created in the merger

     $ 17,414   

Calculated as follows:

    

Adjustment to loans

   $ 74,538     

Adjustment to allowance for loan and lease losses

     (31,457  

Adjustment to other liabilities

     6,600     

Adjustment to deposits

     74     
  

 

 

   

Subtotal for fair value adjustments

     49,755     
  

 

 

   

Calculated deferred tax asset at Columbia’s estimated statutory rate of 35%

   $ 17,414     
  

 

 

   

H. Adjustment to deposits

    

To reflect estimated fair value at merger date based on current market rates for similar products. This adjustment will be accreted into income over the estimated lives of the deposits, which is less than one year.

     $ 74   

I. Adjustment to junior subordinated debentures

    

To reflect redemption of junior subordinated debentures

     $ (51,000

J. Adjustments to other liabilities

    

To reflect liability for estimated change in control payments

     $ 6,600   

To reflect deferred tax liability created in the merger

       10,696   
    

 

 

 
     $ 17,296   
    

 

 

 

The deferred tax liability is calculated as follows:

    

Adjustment to premises and equipment

   $ 15,000     

Adjustment to core deposit intangible, net

     15,561     
  

 

 

   

Subtotal for fair value adjustments

     30,561     
  

 

 

   

Calculated deferred tax liability at Columbia’s estimated statutory rate of 35%

   $ 10,696     
  

 

 

   

K. Adjustment to preferred stock

    

To eliminate historical West Coast preferred stock

     $ (21,124

L. Adjustments to common stock

    

To eliminate historical West Coast common stock

   $ (231,766  

To reflect the issuance of Columbia common stock to West Coast shareholders

     241,460     
  

 

 

   
   $ 9,694     
  

 

 

   

M. Adjustment to retained earnings

    

To eliminate historical West Coast retained earnings

   $ (71,692  

N. Adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income

    

To eliminate historical West Coast accumulated other comprehensive income

   $ (11,414  

 

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Table of Contents
Income Statements     
(dollars in thousands             
     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2012
    Year Ended
December 31,
2011
 

O. Adjustment to loan interest income

    

To reflect accretion of loan discount resulting from loan fair value pro forma adjustment based on weighted average remaining life of six years

   $ 9,317      $ 12,423   

P. Adjustment to deposit interest expense

    

To reflect amortization of deposit premium resulting from deposit fair value pro forma adjustment H based on weighted average life of time deposits being under 1 year.

   $ —        $ 74   

Q. Adjustment to occupancy

    

To reflect additional depreciation expense resulting from premises and equipment pro forma adjustment based on estimated useful life of 39 years

   $ 288      $ 384   

R. Adjustment to legal and professional

    

To remove direct, incremental costs of the merger incurred by Columbia and West Coast.

   $ (1,709   $ —     

S. Adjustment to amortization of intangibles

    

To reflect amortization of acquired intangible assets based on amortization period of 10 years and using the sum-of-the-years-digits method of amortization

   $ 1,910      $ 2,829   

T. Adjustment to income tax provision

    

To reflect the income tax effect of pro forma adjustments O-S at Columbia’s estimated statutory tax rate of 35%

   $ 3,090      $ 3,198   

 

U. Adjusted to weighted average number of common shares outstanding

    $ (6,267   $ (6,197

Adjustment to nine months ended September 30, 2012 calculated as follows:

     

Removal of West Coast weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2012

    (19,077    

Columbia shares issued to West Coast shareholders

    12,810       
 

 

 

     

Adjustment to weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2012

    (6,267    

Adjustment to year ended December 31, 2011 calculated as follows:

     

Removal of West Coast weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2011

    (19,007    

Columbia shares issued to West Coast shareholders

    12,810       
 

 

 

     

Adjustment to weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2011

    (6,197    

 

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Table of Contents
          Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
2012
    Year Ended
December 31,
2011
 

V. Adjustment to weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding

    $ (7,415   $ (7,130

Adjustment to nine months ended September 30, 2012 calculated as follows:

     

Removal of West Coast weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2012

    (20,225    

Columbia shares issued to West Coast shareholders

    12,810       
 

 

 

     

Adjustment to weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2012

    (7,415    

Adjustment to year ended December 31, 2011 calculated as follows:

     

Removal of West Coast weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2011

    (19,940    

Columbia shares issued to West Coast shareholders

    12,810       
 

 

 

     

Adjustment to weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2011

    (7,130    

Note 5—Preliminary Purchase Accounting Allocation

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects the issuance of approximately 12,809,525 shares of Columbia common stock totaling approximately $241.5 million as well as cash consideration of approximately $264.5 million. The merger will be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting; accordingly Columbia’s cost to acquire West Coast will be allocated to the assets (including identifiable intangible assets) and liabilities of West Coast at their respective estimated fair values as of the merger date. Accordingly, the pro forma purchase price was preliminarily allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as summarized in the following table.

 

     September 30, 2012  
     (in thousands)  

Total pro forma purchase price

   $ 505,929   

Fair value of assets acquired:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 50,335   

Securities available for sale at fair value

     792,657   

Federal Home Loan Bank stock at cost

     12,040   

Loans, net of unearned income

     1,416,229   

Premises and equipment

     37,672   

Other real estate owned

     21,939   

Goodwill

     182,409   

Core deposit intangible

     15,561   

Other assets

     83,441   
  

 

 

 

Total assets acquired

   $ 2,612,283   

Fair value of liabilities assumed:

  

Deposits

   $ 1,929,366   

FHLB advances

     127,900   

Other liabilities

     49,088   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities assumed

     2,106,354   
  

 

 

 

Fair value of net assets acquired

   $ 505,929   
  

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

COMPARATIVE PER SHARE DATA OF COLUMBIA (UNAUDITED)

Presented below for Columbia and West Coast is historical, unaudited pro forma combined and pro forma equivalent per share financial data as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 and as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The information presented below should be read together with the historical consolidated financial statements of Columbia and West Coast, including the related notes, filed by Columbia and West Coast, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The unaudited pro forma and pro forma per equivalent share information gives effect to the merger as if the merger had been effective on December 31, 2011 or September 30, 2012 in the case of the book value data, and as if the merger had been effective as of January 1, 2011 in the case of the earnings per share and the cash dividends data. The unaudited pro forma data combines the historical results of West Coast into Columbia’s consolidated statement of income. While certain adjustments were made for the estimated impact of fair value adjustments and other acquisition-related activity, they are not indicative of what could have occurred had the acquisition taken place on January 1, 2011.

The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that Columbia management believes are reasonable. The unaudited pro forma data, while helpful in illustrating the financial characteristics of the combined company under one set of assumptions, does not reflect the impact of factors that may result as a consequence of the merger or consider any potential impacts of current market conditions or the merger on revenues, expense efficiencies, asset dispositions, among other factors, nor the impact of possible business model changes. As a result, unaudited pro forma data is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an attempt to predict or suggest future results. Upon completion of the merger, the operating results of West Coast will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements of Columbia on a prospective basis.

 

     Columbia
Historical
     West Coast
Historical
     Pro Forma
Combined
     Per Equivalent
West Coast
Share (1)
 

For the year ended December 31, 2011:

           

Basic earnings per share

   $ 1.22       $ 1.65       $ 1.69       $ 0.94   

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 1.21       $ 1.58       $ 1.69       $ 0.94   

Cash dividends declared (2)

   $ 0.27       $ —         $ 0.27       $ 0.15   

Book value per share as of December 31, 2011

   $ 19.23       $ 15.20       $ 18.72       $ 10.44   

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012:

           

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.82       $ 0.87       $ 1.08       $ 0.60   

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.82       $ 0.82       $ 1.08       $ 0.60   

Cash dividends declared (2)

   $ 0.89       $ 0.05       $ 0.89       $ 0.50   

Book value per share as of September 30, 2012

   $ 19.20       $ 16.32       $ 19.11       $ 10.66   

 

(1) Reflects West Coast shares at the exchange ratio of 0.5576
(2) Pro forma combined cash dividends declared are based only upon Columbia’s historical amounts

 

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MARKET PRICES, DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS

Stock Prices

The table below sets forth, for the calendar quarters indicated, the high and low closing sales price per share of Columbia common stock and West Coast common stock, which trade on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbols “COLB” and “WCBO,” respectively. As of [                    ], 2012, there were approximately [    ] beneficial holders of Columbia’s common stock and approximately [    ] beneficial holders of West Coast’s common stock.

 

     Columbia
Common Stock
     West Coast
Common Stock
 
     High      Low      High      Low  

2010

           

First Quarter

   $ 22.60       $ 16.03       $ 15.00       $ 10.25   

Second Quarter

   $ 24.96       $ 18.17       $ 17.20       $ 12.75   

Third Quarter

   $ 19.97       $ 15.91       $ 13.75       $ 10.30   

Fourth Quarter

   $ 21.99       $ 17.00       $ 14.70       $ 12.25   

2011

           

First Quarter

   $ 22.14       $ 17.91       $ 17.90       $ 14.55   

Second Quarter

   $ 19.95       $ 16.56       $ 18.25       $ 15.00   

Third Quarter

   $ 18.14       $ 14.01       $ 18.03       $ 12.96   

Fourth Quarter

   $ 19.76       $ 13.46       $ 16.74       $ 13.75   

2012

           

First Quarter

   $ 23.31       $ 19.99       $ 19.56       $ 15.74   

Second Quarter

   $ 23.42       $ 17.39       $ 20.11       $ 18.13   

Third Quarter

   $ 19.65       $ 17.48       $ 22.47       $ 19.09   

Fourth Quarter (1)

   $         $         $         $     

 

(1) Through [                    ], 2012

 

     Columbia
Common Stock
    West Coast
Common Stock
 

September 25, 2012 (1)

   $ 18.85      $ 20.18   

[                    ], 2012 (2)

   $ [               $ [            

 

(1) The last trading day before the public announcement of the signing of the merger agreement.
(2) The last practicable date before the date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.

Dividends and Other Distributions

Columbia declared a quarterly dividend with respect to its common stock for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 of $0.09 per share, and a concurrent special dividend of $0.21 per share. On April 25, 2012, Columbia declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share and a special one-time cash dividend of $0.14 per share. On January 26, 2012, Columbia declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share and a special, one-time cash dividend of $0.29 per share. For the quarter ended December 31, 2011, the quarterly dividend was $0.08 per share, with a concurrent special dividend of $0.05 per share. Quarterly dividends for the first three quarters of 2011 were $0.03 per share, $0.05 per share, and $0.06 per share, respectively. In 2010, Columbia declared quarterly dividends of $0.01 per share.

On September 25, 2012, West Coast announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per outstanding share of common stock and $0.50 per outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock (which was based on the amount that would have been paid if such shares of Series B Preferred Stock had been converted to common stock prior to payment of the dividend). West Coast did not pay dividends with respect to its common stock during 2010, 2011 or the first two quarters of 2012.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This document, including information included or incorporated by reference in this document may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, (i) statements about the benefits of the merger, including future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhancements to revenue and accretion to reported earnings that may be realized from the merger; (ii) statements about our respective plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts; and (iii) other statements identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of Columbia’s and West Coast’s managements, and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Columbia’s and West Coast’s control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change.

The following potential factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations in the forward-looking statements:

 

   

the merger may not close when expected or at all because required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals and other conditions to closing are not received on a timely basis or at all;

 

   

Columbia’s stock price could change, before closing of the merger, including as a result of the financial performance of West Coast prior to closing, or more generally due to broader stock market movements, and the performance of financial companies and peer group companies;

 

   

benefits from the merger may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, including as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions, interest and exchange rates, monetary policy, laws and regulations and their enforcement, and the degree of competition in the geographic and business areas in which West Coast operates;

 

   

West Coast’s business may not be integrated into Columbia’s successfully, or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected;

 

   

the anticipated growth opportunities and cost savings from the merger may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;

 

   

operating costs, customer losses and business disruption following the merger, including adverse developments in relationships with employees, may be greater than expected; and

 

   

management time and effort may be diverted to the resolution of merger-related issues.

Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in Columbia’s and West Coast’s reports filed with the SEC.

All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the proposed transaction or other matters attributable to Columbia or West Coast or any person acting on behalf of Columbia or West Coast are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Neither Columbia nor West Coast undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

 

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THE MERGER

The following is a discussion of the merger and the material terms of the merger agreement between Columbia and West Coast. You are urged to read carefully the merger agreement in its entirety, a copy of which is attached as Appendix A to this document and incorporated by reference herein. This summary may not contain all of the information about the merger agreement that is important to you. We encourage you to read the merger agreement carefully and in its entirety. Factual information about Columbia and West Coast can be found elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus and in the public filings Columbia and West Coast make with the SEC, as described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Terms of the Merger

Transaction Structure

Columbia’s and West Coast’s boards of directors have unanimously approved and adopted the merger agreement. The merger agreement provides for the acquisition of West Coast by Columbia through the merger of a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia to be incorporated prior to the closing of the merger, with and into West Coast, with West Coast continuing as the surviving corporation. As soon as reasonably practicable following the merger, and as part of a single integrated transaction, the surviving corporation will be merged with and into Columbia. We refer to the merger of the wholly-owned Columbia subsidiary with and into West Coast as the “merger,” the merger of the surviving corporation with and into Columbia as the “second step merger,” and the two mergers together as the “mergers.”

 

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Merger Consideration

In the merger, West Coast shareholders will have the right, with respect to each of their shares of West Coast common stock, to elect to receive, subject to proration and adjustment as described below, either cash, stock, or a unit consisting of a mix of cash and stock (with the percentage of cash comprising such unit equal to the percentage of the total consideration represented by cash), in an amount equal to your pro rata share (taking into account Class C Warrants and in-the-money stock options on an as-exercised basis and shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock (including shares of Series B Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of Class C Warrants)) of the total consideration, which consists of $264,468,650 in cash (which may be increased in certain circumstances described below) plus the aggregate proceeds received by West Coast from the exercise of stock options between the execution of the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger (less any amounts paid to holders of West Coast stock options exercised during such period), plus the product of 12,809,525 shares of Columbia common stock multiplied by the volume weighted average price of Columbia common stock for the twenty trading day period beginning on the twenty fifth day before the effective time of the merger (the “Purchaser Average Closing Price”). The following table sets forth information concerning the approximate aggregate and per share consideration that would be payable in the merger based on different Purchaser Average Closing Prices. The table does not reflect the fact that cash will be paid instead of fractional shares, and does not account for any adjustments that may be made to the total cash amount in certain circumstances.

 

     Purchaser Average
Closing Price
     Total Stock
Consideration
(in millions)
     Total Cash
Amount (in
millions)
     Aggregate
Consideration (in
millions)
     Per Share
Consideration
 
   $ 17.00       $ 217.8       $ 264.5       $ 482.2       $ 22.05   
   $ 17.25       $ 221.0       $ 264.5       $ 485.4       $ 22.19   
   $ 17.50       $ 224.2       $ 264.5       $ 488.6       $ 22.33   
   $ 17.75       $ 227.4       $ 264.5       $ 491.8       $ 22.47   
   $ 18.00       $ 230.6       $ 264.5       $ 495.0       $ 22.61   
   $ 18.25       $ 233.8       $ 264.5       $ 498.2       $ 22.75   
   $ 18.50       $ 237.0       $ 264.5       $ 501.4       $ 22.89   
   $ 18.75       $ 240.2       $ 264.5       $ 504.6       $ 23.03   

As of 9/25/12

   $ 18.85       $ 241.5       $ 264.5       $ 505.9       $ 23.08   
   $ 19.00       $ 243.4       $ 264.5       $ 507.8       $ 23.17   
   $ 19.25       $ 246.6       $ 264.5       $ 511.1       $ 23.31   
   $ 19.50       $ 249.8       $ 264.5       $ 514.3       $ 23.44   
   $ 19.75       $ 253.0       $ 264.5       $ 517.5       $ 23.58   
   $ 20.00       $ 256.2       $ 264.5       $ 520.7       $ 23.72   
   $ 20.25       $ 259.4       $ 264.5       $ 523.9       $ 23.86   
   $ 20.50       $ 262.6       $ 264.5       $ 527.1       $ 24.00   
   $ 20.75       $ 265.8       $ 264.5       $ 530.3       $ 24.14   
   $ 21.00       $ 269.0       $ 264.5       $ 533.5       $ 24.28   

If the effective time of the merger does not occur on or prior to the later of (i) six months from the execution of the merger agreement (the “Six Months Date”) and (ii) April 1, 2013, and if West Coast’s consolidated total stockholders’ equity (subject to adjustment for certain unaccrued fees and expenses incurred in connection with the merger) exceeds $328,000,000, the aggregate merger consideration will be increased by an amount in cash equal to West Coast’s earnings during the period from the Six Months Date to the effective time of the merger less the amount of quarterly cash dividends paid by West Coast during such period. In addition, if the Purchaser Average Closing Price declined by more than 17.5% from the closing price of Columbia common stock on the day of the execution of the merger agreement, and Columbia’s common stock underperforms the Keefe Bruyette & Wood (KBW) Regional Banking Index by more than 17.5% during such period, West Coast may terminate the merger agreement unless Columbia contributes sufficient additional cash consideration to offset any reduction in the value of the merger consideration attributable to such decline, as discussed in greater detail

 

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below. We sometimes refer to $264,468,650, plus the aggregate proceeds received by West Coast from the exercise of stock options between the execution of the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger (less any amounts paid to holders of West Coast stock options exercised during such period), plus any additional cash consideration paid by Columbia pursuant to the two preceding sentences, as the total cash amount. We sometimes refer to the product of 12,809,525 multiplied by the Purchaser Average Closing Price as the total stock consideration.

If you are a West Coast shareholder, whether you receive cash or Columbia common stock or a unit consisting of a mix of cash and stock as merger consideration, the value of the merger consideration that you will receive will fluctuate with the market price of Columbia common stock and will depend on the volume weighted average price of Columbia common stock for the twenty trading day period beginning on the twenty fifth day before the completion of the merger, and, if you receive Columbia common stock as merger consideration, on the market price of Columbia common stock when you receive the shares of Columbia common stock.

Cash Election

The merger agreement provides that each West Coast shareholder who makes a valid cash election will have the right to receive, in exchange for each share of West Coast common stock, subject to proration and adjustment as described below, an amount in cash equal its pro rata share (taking into account Class C Warrants and in-the-money stock options on an as-exercised basis and shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock (including shares of Series B Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of Class C Warrants)) of the aggregate consideration, which consists of the total cash amount plus the total stock consideration (both as described above). This amount, which is referred to as the per share cash consideration, or the per share consideration, is calculated as the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the sum of (i) the aggregate consideration (which is equal to the total cash amount plus the total stock consideration) and (ii) the warrant and option proceeds (as defined below), by (b) the aggregate number of shares of West Coast common stock outstanding (including restricted shares, shares issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock (including shares of Series B Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of West Coast’s Class C Warrants) and shares issuable upon exercise of West Coast stock options that have an exercise price below the per share consideration). For purposes of this calculation, the warrant and option proceeds are defined as the sum of (i) $24,000,000 and (ii) the aggregate proceeds that would be received by West Coast from the exercise of all West Coast stock options that have an exercise price below the per share consideration. For example, based on the volume weighted average price of Columbia common stock during the twenty trading day period ending [    ], the last practicable date before the printing of this document, and assuming no adjustments to the aggregate merger consideration are required pursuant to the discussion above concerning the delay in the completion of the merger or a greater than 17.5% decline in Columbia’s stock price, each West Coast common shareholder who receives cash for such shareholder’s shares would have the right to receive approximately $[        ] per share in cash. The aggregate amount of cash that Columbia has agreed to pay in the merger is fixed at the total cash amount and as a result, even if a West Coast shareholder makes a cash election, that holder may nevertheless receive a mix of cash and stock. If a West Coast shareholder makes a valid cash election, such holder’s shares are referred to as cash election shares.

Stock Election

The merger agreement provides that each West Coast shareholder who makes a valid stock election will have the right to receive, in exchange for each share of West Coast common stock, subject to proration and adjustment as described below, a number of shares of Columbia common stock equal to the exchange ratio (as defined below). We refer to this as the per share stock consideration. The exchange ratio is calculated as the quotient (rounded to the nearest ten-thousandth) obtained by dividing (a) the per share consideration by (b) the Purchaser Average Closing Price. No fractional shares of Columbia common stock will be issued in the merger, and a holder of West Coast common stock who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Columbia

 

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common stock will receive cash in lieu thereof. Because the aggregate amount of cash that will be paid in the merger is fixed at the total cash amount, in the event that the total cash amount is undersubscribed, even if a West Coast shareholder makes a stock election, that holder may nevertheless receive a mix of cash and stock. If a West Coast shareholder makes a valid stock election, such holder’s shares are referred to as stock election shares.

Mixed Election

The merger agreement provides that each West Coast shareholder who makes a valid mixed election will have the right to receive the per share stock consideration in respect of the portion of such holder’s shares equal to the stock percentage (as defined below), rounded to the nearest whole share, and the per share cash consideration in respect of the portion of such holder’s shares equal to the cash percentage (as defined below), rounded to the nearest whole share. The cash percentage is equal to the total cash amount payable by Columbia as a percentage of the aggregate consideration (the value of the total cash amount and the total stock consideration payable by Columbia), which will fluctuate with the price of Columbia common stock during the during the twenty trading day period beginning on the twenty fifth day before the effective time of the merger, and the stock percentage is equal to one (1) minus the cash percentage. If a West Coast shareholder makes a valid mixed election, the shares with respect to which such holder has the right to receive the per share cash consideration are referred to as mixed cash shares and the shares with respect to which such holder has the right to receive the per share stock consideration are referred to as mixed stock shares.

Non-Election

West Coast shareholders who make no election to receive cash or shares of Columbia common stock in the merger, whose elections are not received by the exchange agent by the election deadline, or whose forms of election are improperly completed and/or are not signed will be deemed not to have made an election. West Coast shareholders not making an election may be paid in cash, Columbia common stock or a mix of cash and shares of Columbia common stock depending on, and after giving effect to, the adjustment procedures described below, the number of valid cash elections and stock elections that have been made by other West Coast shareholders, and the number of shares held by West Coast shareholders who provided notice of dissent to West Coast and do not vote in favor of the merger and who have not lost their right to dissenters’ rights (in the event that dissenters’ rights apply because shares of West Coast common stock cease to be registered on a national securities exchange, as discussed below) in accordance with the procedures and requirements of Oregon law (sometimes referred to as proposed dissenting shares). Shares of West Coast common stock with respect to which no election is deemed to have been made are referred to as no election shares.

Adjustment on a Prorated Basis

The cash and stock elections are subject to adjustment to ensure that the aggregate amount of cash that would be paid in the merger is equal to the total cash amount. As a result, even if a West Coast shareholder makes a cash election or stock election, such West Coast shareholder may nevertheless receive some stock consideration or some cash consideration, respectively.

Proration Adjustment if Cash Consideration is Oversubscribed

Shares of Columbia common stock may be issued to West Coast shareholders who make cash elections if the total cash amount is oversubscribed, meaning the aggregate cash amount that would be paid in the merger exceeds the total cash amount, in which case:

 

   

all mixed stock shares, stock election shares and no election shares will be converted into the right to receive the per share stock consideration;

 

   

all proposed dissenting shares (meaning all shares of West Coast common stock whose holders provide notice of dissent to West Coast prior to the West Coast special meeting and who do not vote in favor of the merger, in the event that dissenters’ rights apply to the merger (as discussed below)) will be deemed, for the purposes of proration, to be converted into the right to receive the per share cash consideration;

 

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the exchange agent will select from among the cash election shares, by a pro rata selection process, a sufficient number of shares such that the aggregate cash amount that will be paid in the merger equals as closely as practicable the total cash amount, and all shares so selected will be converted into the right to receive the per share stock consideration (such shares are referred to as stock designated shares);

 

   

a West Coast shareholder making a cash election will receive:

 

   

the per share stock consideration for such holder’s shares that are stock designated shares; and

 

   

the per share cash consideration for such holder’s remaining shares; and

 

   

all mixed cash shares will be converted into the right to receive the per share cash consideration.

Example of Oversubscription of Total Cash Amount

As an example, assuming that the Purchaser Average Closing Price was equal to $18.85, and the total cash amount is $264,468,650, then the per share consideration would be equal to approximately $23.08 and the aggregate consideration would be equal to approximately $505.9 million, consisting of approximately $264.5 million in cash and 12,809,525 shares of Columbia stock valued at approximately $241.5 million. Under these assumptions, there would be a total of 11,985,058 shares of West Coast common stock exchangeable for cash consideration and 10,942,342 shares of West Coast common stock exchangeable for stock consideration in the merger (assuming all holders of Series B Preferred Stock elect to receive merger consideration, and treating all Class C Warrants and shares of Series B Preferred Stock on a common-equivalent basis).

Assuming that:

 

   

the number of cash election shares and mixed cash shares (and proposed dissenting shares, in the event that dissenters’ rights apply) combined is equal to 14,000,000, which would require the payment of approximately $323.2 million in cash (14,000,000*$23.08) (in other words, there is only approximately $264.5 million in total cash consideration, but based on the elections received approximately $323.2 million in cash would be paid in the merger),

then a West Coast shareholder that has made a valid cash election with respect to 1,000 shares of West Coast common stock would receive the per share stock consideration with respect to 144 shares (as rounded to the nearest whole share) of West Coast common stock and the per share cash consideration with respect to the remaining 856 shares (as rounded to the nearest whole share) of West Coast common stock. Therefore, that West Coast shareholder would receive 176 shares (as rounded to the nearest whole share) of Columbia common stock and approximately $19,760 in cash (as rounded to the nearest dollar). This example does not reflect any cash that may be paid in lieu of fractional shares of Columbia common stock.

Proration Adjustment if Cash Consideration is Undersubscribed

West Coast shareholders who make stock elections may receive cash in respect of some of their shares if the total cash amount is undersubscribed, meaning the aggregate cash amount that would be paid in the merger is less than the total cash amount, in which case:

 

   

all cash election shares and mixed cash shares will be converted into the right to receive the per share cash consideration;

 

   

all proposed dissenting shares will be deemed, for the purposes of proration, to be converted into the right to receive the per share cash consideration;

 

   

the exchange agent will select first from among the no election shares and then (if necessary) from among the stock election shares, by a pro rata selection process, a sufficient number of shares such that the aggregate cash amount that will be paid in the merger equals as closely as practicable the total cash amount (such shares are referred to as cash designated shares);

 

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a West Coast shareholder making a stock election will receive:

 

   

the per share cash consideration for such holder’s shares that are cash designated shares; and

 

   

the per share stock consideration for such holder’s remaining shares;

 

   

all mixed stock shares and all no election shares that are not cash designated shares will be converted into the right to receive the per share stock consideration; and

 

   

all no election shares that are cash designated shares will be converted into the right to receive the per share cash consideration.

Examples of Undersubscription of Total Cash Amount

As an example, assuming that the Purchaser Average Closing Price was equal to $18.85, and the total cash amount is $264,468,650, then the per share consideration would be equal to approximately $23.08 and the aggregate consideration would be equal to approximately $505.9 million, consisting of approximately $264.5 million in cash and 12,809,525 shares of Columbia stock valued at approximately $241.5 million. Under these assumptions, there would be a total of 11,985,058 shares of West Coast common stock exchangeable for cash consideration and 10,942,342 shares of West Coast common stock exchangeable for stock consideration in the merger (assuming all holders of Series B Preferred Stock elect to receive merger consideration, and treating all Class C Warrants and shares of Series B Preferred Stock on a common-equivalent basis).

Scenario 1: Undersubscription of total cash amount and only no election shares are prorated into receiving cash consideration:

Assuming that: