Strategic Shift Clears Path for HarborOne and Eastern Bankshares Merger

In a strategic maneuver, HarborOne Bancorp and Eastern Bankshares have altered their approach to their planned $490 million combination, effectively sidestepping a potential regulatory hurdle. The companies unexpectedly withdrew their application for a key regulatory hearing, originally scheduled for today, marking a significant tactical shift in the deal’s execution timeline.

The revised plan abandons the previously contemplated step-by-step process in favor of a simultaneous integration. Under the new structure, both the parent holding companies and their banking subsidiaries will merge concurrently. This change prompted Eastern Bankshares to formally withdraw its application with regulators, rendering the planned hearing obsolete.

Despite this tactical withdrawal, regulatory oversight remains a key component of the process. The merger of the banking units still requires explicit Read more...