CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, any related prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We and our representatives may, from time to time, make written or oral statements that are “forward-looking” and provide information other than historical information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “project,” “could,” “intend,” “target” and other similar words and expressions of the future. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
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statements of our goals, intentions and expectations;
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statements regarding our business plans, prospects, mergers (including the proposed acquisition (the “merger”) of First Community Bancorp, Inc. (“First Community”)), growth and operating strategies;
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statements regarding the current global COVID-19 pandemic;
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statements regarding the asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and
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estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits.
These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of the management of Eagle and the Bank and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our 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 factors, among others, could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements:
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Changes in laws or government regulations or policies affecting financial institutions, including changes in regulatory fees and capital requirements;
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general economic conditions and political events, either nationally or in our market areas, that are worse than expected;
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the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including but not limited to the efficiency of the vaccine roll out, new variants such as Delta and Omicron, steps taken by governmental and other authorities to contain, mitigate and combat the pandemic, adverse effects on our employees, customers and third-party service providers, the increase in cyberattacks in the current work-from-home environment, the ultimate extent of the impacts on our business, financial position, results of operations, liquidity and prospects, and continued deterioration in general business and economic conditions could adversely affect our revenues and the values of our assets and liabilities, lead to a tightening of credit and increase stock price volatility, and potential impairment charges;
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competition among depository and other financial institutions;
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loan demand or residential and commercial real estate values in Montana;
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the concentration of our business in Montana;
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our ability to continue to increase and manage our commercial real estate, commercial business and agricultural loans;
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the costs and effects of legal, compliance and regulatory actions, changes and developments, including the initiation and resolution of legal proceedings (including any securities, bank operations, consumer or employee litigation);