PrivateBancorp and CIBC Reaffirm Intent to Hold PrivateBancorp Stockholder Meeting on May 12, 2017

TORONTO and CHICAGO, May 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) and PrivateBancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PVTB) today reaffirmed that PrivateBancorp will hold a special meeting of stockholders on Friday, May 12, 2017, as previously announced, to vote on the proposal to adopt the amended merger agreement with CIBC. PrivateBancorp stockholders of record as of close of business on March 31, 2017 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting.

"We remain fully committed to the transaction with CIBC and the board continues to unanimously recommend that stockholders vote in favor of the compelling strategic combination," said James Guyette, Chairman of the Board of PrivateBancorp. "Importantly, the combination with CIBC accelerates certain key elements of our corporate strategy, promoting both continuity and growth. The transaction delivers certainty of value through the cash consideration and upside potential through ownership in the combined company with enhanced strategic capabilities. At this stage, we believe it is in the best interest of both PrivateBancorp and CIBC to provide certainty to all of our stakeholders by going forward with the meeting as scheduled. We look forward to receiving the approval of our stockholders on May 12."

"We have put forward our best and final offer and it is now up to the PrivateBancorp stockholders," said Victor G. Dodig, CIBC's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are offering PrivateBancorp stockholders a significant premium, including certainty of value through the cash consideration and the opportunity to participate in the upside potential of the combined company. We look forward to PrivateBancorp stockholders becoming CIBC stockholders."

As previously announced, the amended merger agreement provides that PrivateBancorp stockholders will receive US$27.20 in cash and 0.4176 of a CIBC common share for each share of PrivateBancorp common stock held upon completion of the proposed merger with CIBC.

CIBC previously affirmed that these terms represent its best and final offer to the PrivateBancorp stockholders. PrivateBancorp's board of directors unanimously reaffirmed its recommendation upon entry into the May 4 amendment that PrivateBancorp stockholders approve the transaction. The parties expect the transaction to close in June 2017, subject to customary closing conditions.

In addition to the merger consideration, in the event that the merger is imminent but has not been consummated as of June 28, 2017, CIBC previously announced that it intends to adjust as necessary the anticipated June 28, 2017 record date for its next quarterly dividend to allow PrivateBancorp stockholders to participate in the next quarterly dividend payable in respect of CIBC common shares. CIBC's dividend for the quarter ended April 30, 2017, was C$1.27 per share (or US$0.93, based on a currency exchange rate of 0.7292), which would equate to US$0.39 for each share of common stock of PrivateBancorp (prior to applicable withholding taxes). Dividends are subject to approval by CIBC's board of directors. Any actual U.S. dollar dividend will depend on the Canadian/U.S. dollar exchange rate on the payment date and will be subject to applicable withholding taxes.

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 March 31, 2017, the company had 36 offices in 13 states and US$20.4 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 the amendment to PrivateBancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed with SEC on May 1, 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 2017 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, including changes relating to economic or trade matters; 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; the risk that expected synergies and benefits of the merger between PrivateBancorp and CIBC will not be realized within the expected time frame or at all; 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 PrivateBancorp, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.theprivatebank.com