United Community Banks, Inc. and Peach State Bancshares, Inc. Announce Election Deadline for Peach State Shareholders to Elect Form of Merger Consideration and Expected Closing Date
Rhea-AI Summary
United Community Banks (NYSE: UCB) and Peach State Bancshares set 5:00 p.m. ET on July 20, 2026 as the deadline for Peach State shareholders of record to elect their preferred merger consideration under the April 20, 2026 Merger Agreement.
Shareholders may choose, per Peach State share, either $31.75 in cash (subject to withholding, without interest) or 0.8978 United common shares, with overall consideration prorated to achieve a 50% cash / 50% stock mix; cash will be paid instead of fractional United shares. United has received all required regulatory approvals and expects closing on August 3, 2026, subject to remaining conditions, including Peach State shareholder approval. Election materials and Peach State stock certificates must reach Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company by the deadline, with a guaranteed delivery option for missing certificates and a final certificate receipt deadline of 5:00 p.m. ET on July 27, 2026. Non-electing shares will receive cash or stock according to the allocation and proration procedures in the Merger Agreement.
Positive
- Regulatory approvals secured for Peach State acquisition; closing targeted for August 3, 2026
- Merger consideration terms fixed: $31.75 cash or 0.8978 UCB share per Peach State share, with 50% cash / 50% stock mix
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – UCB
In the Jul 10 session, UCB gained 0.82%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Previous Acquisition Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12 | Navitas sale agreement | Positive | +1.1% | Agreed to sell Navitas equipment finance business for $1.9 billion in cash. |
| Apr 21 | Peach State merger deal | Positive | -3.3% | Announced cash-and-stock agreement to acquire Peach State Bancshares with 2027 EPS accretion. |
| May 01 | ANB merger completion | Positive | +1.0% | Completed merger with ANB Holdings, expanding presence in South Florida markets. |
| Dec 03 | ANB merger agreement | Positive | +0.0% | Announced all-stock acquisition of ANB Holdings to strengthen Miami market presence. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Acquisition-related headlines have produced mostly modest, positive share moves, with the initial Peach State merger announcement the main negative outlier.
Key Terms
letter of transmittal regulatory
notice of guaranteed delivery regulatory
proxy statement/prospectus regulatory
proration financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
GREENVILLE, S.C., July 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE: UCB) (“United”) and Peach State Bancshares, Inc. (“Peach State”) announced today the election deadline by which Peach State shareholders of record may elect the form of consideration that they prefer to receive as merger consideration pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 20, 2026, by and between United and Peach State (the “Merger Agreement”). The election deadline is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 20, 2026. United and Peach State also announced that United has received all required regulatory approvals to acquire Peach State and that the closing of the transaction is expected to occur on August 3, 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including the approval of Peach State shareholders.
Peach State shareholders of record wishing to make an election must deliver to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (“Continental”) a properly completed election form and letter of transmittal and any other applicable election materials including their Peach State stock certificates by the election deadline of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 20, 2026. Peach State shareholders who are missing Peach State stock certificates may submit a properly completed election form and letter of transmittal and a notice of guaranteed delivery by the election deadline and then must ensure their stock certificates (or replacement certificates) are received by Continental by 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time on July 27, 2026.
Each Peach State shareholder will be entitled to receive, for each share of Peach State common stock held immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, (i)
Each Peach State shareholder will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of United common stock that such shareholder otherwise would be entitled to receive. Each Peach State shareholder that does not submit properly completed election materials to Continental by the election deadline will be treated as non-election shares and will receive the cash consideration or the stock consideration in accordance with the allocation and proration procedures described in the Merger Agreement.
All of the documents necessary to make an election were previously mailed to Peach State shareholders of record as of June 1, 2026. Peach State shareholders of record with questions regarding the election process should contact Continental at 800-509-5586 as soon as possible.
A more detailed description of the merger consideration and the allocation and proration procedures applicable to elections is contained in the parties’ proxy statement/prospectus dated June 10, 2026. Peach State shareholders are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully and in its entirety. Copies of the proxy statement/prospectus may be obtained free of charge by following the instructions below under “Important Other Information.”
About United Community Banks, Inc.
United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE: UCB) is the financial holding company for United Community, a top 100 U.S. financial institution committed to building stronger communities and improving the financial health and well-being of its customers. United Community offers a full range of banking, mortgage, and wealth management services. As of March 31, 2026, United Community Banks, Inc. had
About Peach State Bancshares, Inc.
Peach State Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Peach State Bank & Trust. The bank is a full-service bank with two branches located in Hall County, Georgia. Peach State Bank & Trust has been a true community bank serving the needs of the Hall County community for over 20 years. As of March 31, 2026, Peach State Bank & Trust had
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which address a variety of subjects including, for example, the expected timing of the closing of the proposed transaction between United Community Banks, Inc. (“United”) and Peach State Bancshares, Inc. (“Peach State”). Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about United and Peach State beliefs, plans and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations of United and Peach State management and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following important factors and uncertainties, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: the ability to satisfy the conditions to closing of the proposed transaction, on the expected timing or at all; the occurrence of any event that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the risk of shareholder litigation relating to the proposed transaction, including resulting expense or delay. For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please refer to United filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the risk factors contained in the most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K of United. Forward-looking statements represent management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Except as required by law, neither United nor Peach State undertakes any obligation to update forward-looking statements made by it to reflect new information, subsequent events or circumstances.
Important Information About the Merger and Where to Find It
In connection with the Merger, United filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 on May 28, 2026, which was declared effective on June 10, 2026, that includes a proxy statement of Peach State to be sent to Peach State’s shareholders seeking their approval of the Merger Agreement. The registration statement contains the prospectus of United to register the shares of United common stock to be issued in connection with the Merger. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF PEACH STATE ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS THAT IS A PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY UNITED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THOSE OTHER DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT UNITED, PEACH STATE, AND THE MERGER.
The registration statement and other documents filed with the SEC may be obtained for free at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). You are also be able to obtain these documents, free of charge, from United at the “Investor Relations” section of United’s website at www.ucbi.com or from Peach State at https://www.peachstate.bank/. Copies of the definitive proxy statement/prospectus are also available, free of charge, by contacting United Community Banks, Inc., P.O. Box 398, Blairsville, GA 30514, Attn: Jefferson Harralson, Telephone: (864) 240-6208, or Peach State Bancshares, Inc., 121 E. E. Butler Parkway, Gainesville, Georgia 30501, Attn: Ron Quinn, Telephone: (770) 536-1100.
Participants in the Solicitation
United, Peach State, and certain of their respective directors and executive officers, under the rules of the SEC may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Peach State’s shareholders in favor of the approval of the Merger Agreement. Information about such directors and executive officers of United and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, can be found under the headings “Director Compensation,” “Director Independence,” “Executive Compensation,” and “Security Ownership” in United’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on April 1, 2026 (available at: https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000857855/000110465926038366/tm2520272-3_def14a.htm), and other documents subsequently filed by United with the SEC. To the extent holdings of United common stock by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in United’s definitive proxy statement in connection with its 2026 annual meeting of shareholders, such changes have been or will be reflected in filings with the SEC on Form 3 (Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities), Form 4 (Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership) or Form 5 (Annual Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities) (which are available at EDGAR Search Results https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/#/category=form-cat2&ciks=0000857855&entityName=UNITED%2520COMMUNITY%2520BANKS%2520INC%2520(UCB%252C%2520UCB-PI)%2520(CIK%25200000857855)). Further information regarding the direct or indirect interests of the directors and executive officers of United, along with information about the directors and executive officers of Peach State and their direct or indirect interests and information regarding the interests of other persons who may be deemed participants in the solicitation, may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Merger. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above.
Non-Solicitation
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
For more information:
Jefferson Harralson
Chief Financial Officer
(864) 240-6208
Jefferson_Harralson@ucbi.com
