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: May 11, 2006
FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| |
|
|
|
|
Ohio
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
|
|
0-12379
(Commission File
Number)
|
|
31-1042001
(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
| |
|
|
|
|
300 High Street
Hamilton, Ohio
(Address of principal executive
offices)
|
|
|
|
45011
(Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (513) 867-5447
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 (see General
Instruction A.2. below):
| o |
|
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| |
| o |
|
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| |
| o |
|
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b)) |
| |
| o |
|
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c)) |
|
|
|
| Form 8-K
|
|
First Financial Bancorp. |
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On May 12, 2006, First Financial Bancorp. announced that its subsidiary, First Financial Bank N.A.,
signed definitive agreements five branches in Central Indiana and Michigan. First Financial Bank
will sell three of its Central Indiana banking offices to Mutual Federal Savings Bank, a subsidiary
of MutualFirst Financial Inc. of Muncie, Indiana. In an earlier release dated April 24, 2006,
First Financial Bancorp had said it intended to close these branches.
First Financial Bank has signed a definitive agreement to sell its two branches in Michigan to
Chemical Bank, a subsidiary of Chemical Financial Corporation, Midland, Michigan. First Financial
Bancorp had announced on April 24, 2006, that it intended to sell these branches.
Subject to regulatory approval, these sales are expected to be completed in the third quarter of
2006. The combined after-tax gain on the sale of $60 million in deposits and $77 million in loans
is estimated to be approximately $5 million or $0.13 per share and will be recognized when the
transactions are completed.
The sale is part of First Financial’s branch rationalization plan previously announced.
A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Exhibits.
(c) Exhibit:
| |
99.1 |
|
First Financial Bancorp. Press Release dated
May 12, 2006. |