UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 24, 2022

INVESTORS BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-36441

46-4702118

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File No.)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)


101 JFK Parkway, Short Hills, New Jersey		07078
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (973) 924-5100

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading

Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common

ISBC

The NASDAQ Stock Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.405) or Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01

Other Events.

On March 24, 2022, Investors Bancorp, Inc. (“Investors”) and Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (“Citizens”) announced receipt of regulatory approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to complete the previously announced acquisition under which Citizens will acquire all the outstanding shares of Investors for a combination of cash and stock.

The acquisition is anticipated to close by mid-April 2022, pending satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)

Not Applicable.

(b)

Not Applicable.

(c)

Not Applicable

(d)

Exhibits.


Exhibit No.		Description

99.1		Joint Press Release of Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and Investors Bancorp, Inc. dated March 24, 2022

104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded in the cover page formatted in Inline XBRL)

Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the financial condition, results of operations, business plans and future performance of Citizens and Investors. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “targets,” “designed,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “will” or other similar words and expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Citizens’ and Investors’ current expectations and assumptions regarding Citizens’ and Investors’ businesses, the economy, and other future conditions.

Because forward-looking statements relate to future results and occurrences, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, changes in circumstances and other factors that are difficult to predict. Many possible events or factors could affect Citizens’ and/or Investors’ future financial results and performance and could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Citizens and/or Investors to differ materially from any anticipated results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, (1) the risk that the cost savings, any revenue synergies and other anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction may not be realized or may take longer than anticipated to be realized, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies or as a result of the condition of the economy and competitive factors in areas where Citizens and Investors do business, (2) disruption to the parties’ businesses as a result of the announcement and pendency of the proposed transaction and diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities, (3) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the definitive merger agreement between Citizens and Investors, (4) the risk that the integration of Citizens’ and Investors’ operations will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected or that Citizens and Investors are otherwise unable to successfully integrate their businesses, (5) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Citizens and/or Investors, (6) reputational risk and potential adverse reactions of Citizens’ and/or Investors’ customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed transaction, (7) the failure of any of the closing conditions in the definitive merger agreement to be satisfied on a timely basis or at all, (8) delays in closing the proposed merger, (9) the possibility that the proposed merger may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected

factors or events, (10) the dilution caused by Citizens’ issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed transaction, (11) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions, (12) other factors that may affect future results of Investors and/or Citizens including changes in asset quality and credit risk, the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth, changes in interest rates and capital markets, inflation, customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices, the impact, extent and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and other actions of the Federal Reserve Board and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, and (13) the impact of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic on Citizens’ and/or Investors’ businesses, the ability to complete the proposed transaction and/or any of the other foregoing risks.

Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, each of Citizens and Investors disclaims any obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included in this communication to reflect future events or developments. Further information regarding Citizens, Investors and factors which could affect the forward-looking statements contained herein can be found in Citizens’ and Investors’ Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), their subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and their other filings with the SEC.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

INVESTORS BANCORP, INC.

DATE: March 25, 2022

/s/ Brian Doran

Brian Doran

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Investors Bancorp, Inc. 8-K