Revised Terms Reflect 20% Increase in Value to PrivateBancorp Stockholders
PrivateBancorp Board of Directors Unanimously Approves CIBC's Amended Offer and Reaffirms
Recommendation that its Stockholders Vote for Transaction
TORONTO and CHICAGO, March 30, 2017 /CNW/ - Following
unanimous approvals by their respective boards of directors, CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) and PrivateBancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVTB)
today announced that they have entered into an amended merger agreement (the "Amended Agreement").
Under the Amended Agreement, PrivateBancorp stockholders will receive, upon completion of the proposed merger with CIBC,
US$24.20 in cash and 0.4176 of a CIBC common share for each share of common stock of PrivateBancorp
held. Based upon yesterday's closing price of CIBC's common shares on the New York Stock Exchange (US$87.92), the Amended Agreement values PrivateBancorp at approximately US$4.9
billion (C$6.6 billion or US$60.92 per share), which
represents a 20% increase in value compared to the initial terms announced on June 29, 2016. The
Amended Agreement values PrivateBancorp at approximately 2.7 times tangible book value as of December 31,
2016.
James Guyette, Chairman of the Board of PrivateBancorp, said, "We are pleased to announce the
revised terms of our proposed transaction with CIBC, which provides our stockholders with a significant increase in value as
compared to the initial terms of the transaction. The amended terms agreed between CIBC and PrivateBancorp reflect changes to
trading market conditions and the interest rate environment since we announced the transaction in June
2016 as well as PrivateBancorp's continued strong performance. Our Board believes in the long-term strategic value of the
combination and, after careful consideration, unanimously supports the amended terms and continues to recommend that
PrivateBancorp stockholders approve the transaction."
"We are pleased to have reached an amended agreement with PrivateBancorp," said Victor G.
Dodig, CIBC President and Chief Executive Officer. "The quality of its management team and its focus on building a
client-first culture make PrivateBancorp an excellent fit with CIBC."
"We continue to believe that a merger between CIBC and PrivateBancorp is a compelling opportunity that offers immediate and
long-term value for PrivateBancorp stockholders," added Mr. Dodig. "For CIBC stockholders, completing this acquisition
accelerates our strategy of building a strong, innovative and client-focused bank. The transaction will create opportunities for
CIBC to bank across borders for our Canadian clients, offer more services to our existing U.S. clients and expand
PrivateBancorp's client relationships. We look forward to continuing to work closely with PrivateBancorp to successfully complete
the transaction and realize the full benefits for our stockholders, employees, clients and partners."
Larry Richman, President and CEO of PrivateBancorp, added, "The PrivateBancorp team remains
enthusiastic about joining the CIBC family. This transaction will enable us to accelerate our track record of success through
partnering with CIBC, and we look forward to closing the transaction as expeditiously as possible."
Approvals and Timing
The companies currently expect to close the transaction in the second calendar quarter of 2017. The transaction remains
subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by PrivateBancorp's stockholders and by the federal banking
regulators in Canada and the United States.
As previously announced, PrivateBancorp has set March 31, 2017 as the new record date for its
special meeting of stockholders to consider and act upon the revised merger agreement. PrivateBancorp stockholders of
record as of the close of business on March 31, 2017 will be entitled to vote at the Special
Meeting, which is expected to take place in mid-May.
PrivateBancorp investors with questions about the transaction or how to vote their shares may contact PrivateBancorp's proxy
solicitors, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, by calling toll-free at 888-750-5834, or Alliance Advisors, LLC, by calling toll-free
at 855-976-3324.
Additional Transaction Details
The total value of the consideration that PrivateBancorp common stockholders will receive upon the closing of the transaction
will be based in part on the value of CIBC common shares at closing. CIBC will satisfy aggregate consideration payable to
PrivateBancorp stockholders by paying approximately US$1.9 billion (C$2.6
billion) in cash and issuing approximately 33.5 million CIBC common shares, representing an approximately 40 per cent cash
and 60 per cent stock mix.
CIBC estimates that the completion of transaction will contribute approximately US$340 million
(C$450 million) of net income in fiscal 2020 and become accretive to CIBC's earnings per share
within three years of the closing date.
CIBC expects to maintain a strong Common Equity Tier (CET) 1 ratio at closing above 10 per cent. CIBC's CET 1 ratio was 11.9
per cent as at January 31, 2017.
About CIBC
CIBC is a leading Canadian-based global financial institution with 11 million personal banking and business clients. Through
our three major business units - Retail and Business Banking, Wealth Management and Capital Markets - CIBC offers a full range of
products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada with offices in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news
releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre/ or by following on Twitter @CIBC, Facebook (www.facebook.com/CIBC) and Instagram @CIBCNow.
About PrivateBancorp, Inc.
PrivateBancorp, Inc., through its subsidiary The PrivateBank, delivers customized business and personal financial services to
middle-market companies, as well as business owners, executives, entrepreneurs and families in all of the markets and communities
it serves. As of December 31, 2016, the Company had 36 offices in 13 states and US$20.1 billion in assets. The Company's website is www.theprivatebank.com.
Important Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, CIBC has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form F-4 that includes a
Proxy Statement of PrivateBancorp and a Prospectus of CIBC, as well as other relevant documents concerning the proposed
transaction. The proposed transaction involving CIBC and PrivateBancorp will be submitted to PrivateBancorp's stockholders for
their consideration. This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any
securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. STOCKHOLDERS OF PRIVATEBANCORP ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY
AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders will be able to
obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about CIBC and
PrivateBancorp, without charge, at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Copies
of the proxy statement/prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the proxy
statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to CIBC, Commerce Court, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5L 1A2, Attention: Investor Relations, 416 304-8726; or to PrivateBancorp,
Investor Relations, 120 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60603, 312 564-2000.
Participants in the Solicitation
CIBC, PrivateBancorp, their respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in
the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding CIBC's directors and executive officers
is available in its Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended October 31, 2016, which was filed
with the SEC on December 1, 2016, and its management proxy circular and notice of annual and
special meeting of stockholders for its 2017 annual and special meeting of stockholders, which was furnished to the SEC under
cover of a Form 6-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2017. Information regarding PrivateBancorp's
directors and executive officers is available in PrivateBancorp's proxy statement for its 2016 annual meeting filed on Schedule
14A, which was filed with SEC on April 8, 2016. Other information regarding the participants in the
proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in
the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC. Free copies of this document may be obtained as
described in the preceding paragraph.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this communication may be deemed to be forward-looking statements under certain securities
laws. All such statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements
under, applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the operations, business lines, financial
condition, risk management, priorities, targets, ongoing objectives, strategies of PrivateBancorp and CIBC and the regulatory
environment in which they operate and outlook for calendar year 2016 and subsequent periods. Forward-looking statements are
typically identified by the words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "target", "objective" and
other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will", "should", "would" and "could". By their nature,
these statements require us to make assumptions, including the economic assumptions set out in the reports of PrivateBancorp and
CIBC filed with the SEC, and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific. A variety of
factors, many of which are beyond our control, affect our operations, performance and results, and could cause actual results to
differ materially from the expectations expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. These factors include: credit,
market, liquidity, strategic, insurance, operational, reputation and legal, regulatory and environmental risk; the effectiveness
and adequacy of our risk management and valuation models and processes; legislative or regulatory developments in the
jurisdictions where we operate, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations
issued and to be issued thereunder, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Common Reporting Standard, and
regulatory reforms in the United Kingdom and Europe, the Basel
Committee on Banking Supervision's global standards for capital and liquidity reform and those relating to the payments system in
Canada; amendments to, and interpretations of, risk-based capital guidelines and reporting
instructions, and interest rate and liquidity regulatory guidance; the resolution of legal and regulatory proceedings and related
matters; the effect of changes to accounting standards, rules and interpretations; changes in our estimates of reserves and
allowances; changes in tax laws; changes to our credit ratings; political conditions and developments; the possible effect on our
business of international conflicts and the war on terror; natural disasters, public health emergencies, disruptions to public
infrastructure and other catastrophic events; reliance on third parties to provide components of our business infrastructure;
potential disruptions to our information technology systems and services; increasing cyber security risks which may include theft
of assets, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or operational disruption; social media risk; losses incurred as a
result of internal or external fraud; anti-money laundering; the accuracy and completeness of information provided to us
concerning clients and counterparties; the failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to us and our affiliates or
associates; intensifying competition from established competitors and new entrants in the financial services industry including
through internet and mobile banking; technological change; global capital market activity; changes in monetary and economic
policy; currency value and interest rate fluctuations, including as a result of market and oil price volatility; general business
and economic conditions worldwide, as well as in Canada, the U.S. and other countries where we
and CIBC have operations, including increasing Canadian household debt levels and global credit risks; our success in developing
and introducing new products and services, expanding existing distribution channels, developing new distribution channels and
realizing increased revenue from these channels; changes in client spending and saving habits; our ability to attract and retain
key employees and executives; our ability to successfully execute our strategies and complete and integrate acquisitions and
joint ventures; and our ability to anticipate and manage the risks associated with these factors. This list is not
exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of our forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered
carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Additional information about these
factors can be found in the reports filed by PrivateBancorp and CIBC with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained
in this communication represent the views of management only as of the date hereof and are presented for the purpose of assisting
our stockholders and financial analysts in understanding our financial position, objectives and priorities and anticipated
financial performance as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, and may not be appropriate for other purposes. We
do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained in this communication or in other communications
except as required by law.
SOURCE Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
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