Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp

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Risks Related to the Proposed Merger with Sandy Spring

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The dilution caused by the issuance of shares of our common stock in connection with the merger may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

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We expect to issue approximately 41 million shares of our common stock as Merger Consideration to Sandy Spring stockholders, and assuming full physical settlement, we expect to issue 11,338,028 shares of our common stock pursuant to the Forward Sale Agreement. The dilution caused by the issuance of the new shares of our common stock may result in fluctuations in the market price of our common stock, including a stock price decrease.

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Combining the Company and Sandy Spring may be more difficult, costly or time consuming than expected and the combined company may fail to realize the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the merger.

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Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, we will begin the process of integrating Sandy Spring. A successful integration of its business with ours will depend substantially on our ability to consolidate operations, corporate cultures, systems and procedures, to eliminate redundancies and to realize the anticipated cost savings. If we and Sandy Spring are not able to successfully achieve these objectives, the anticipated benefits of the merger may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected. In addition, the actual cost savings and anticipated benefits of the

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merger could be less than anticipated, and integration may result in additional unforeseen expenses. We may not be able to combine our business with the business of Sandy Spring without encountering difficulties that could adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with existing clients, customers, depositors and employees, such as:

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Any disruption to the businesses could cause customers to remove their accounts and move their business to a competing financial institution. Integration efforts between the two companies may also divert management attention and resources. Additionally, general market and economic conditions or governmental actions affecting the financial industry generally may inhibit our successful integration of Sandy Spring.

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Further, we entered into the merger agreement to acquire Sandy Spring with the expectation that the acquisition will result in various benefits including, among other things, benefits relating to enhanced revenues, a strengthened market position for the combined company, cross selling opportunities, technological efficiencies, cost savings and operating efficiencies. Achieving the anticipated benefits of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement is subject to a number of uncertainties, including whether we integrate Sandy Spring in an efficient, effective and timely manner, and general competitive factors in the marketplace. Failure to achieve these anticipated benefits on the anticipated timeframe, or at all, could result in a reduction in the price of our common stock as well as in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues and diversion of management’s time and energy and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Additionally, upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, we will make fair value estimates of certain assets and liabilities in recording the acquisition. Actual values of these assets and liabilities could differ from our estimates, which could result in our not achieving the anticipated benefits of the acquisition. Finally, any cost savings that are realized may be offset by losses in revenues or other charges to earnings.

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We and Sandy Spring have operated and, until the completion of the merger, must continue to operate, independently. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of our ongoing business, inability to maintain and increase competitive presence, additional costs or unexpected problems with operations, personnel, technology and credit, or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect each company’s ability to maintain relationships with clients, customers, depositors and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the merger. Integration efforts may also divert management attention during this transition period and for an undetermined period after completion of the merger, which may have an adverse effect on the combined company.

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We and Sandy Spring have, and the combined company following the merger will, incur significant transaction and merger-related costs in connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

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We and Sandy Spring have incurred and expect to incur significant non-recurring costs associated with combining the operations of Sandy Spring with our operations. These costs include legal, financial advisory, accounting, consulting and other advisory fees, severance/employment-related costs, public company filing fees and other regulatory fees, printing costs and other related costs. We have begun collecting information to formulate detailed integration plans to deliver anticipated cost savings. Additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of our business with the business of Sandy Spring, and there are many factors beyond our or Sandy Spring’s control that could affect the total amount or timing of integration costs. Although we expect that the elimination of duplicative costs, as well as the realization of other efficiencies related to the integration of the businesses, may offset incremental transaction and merger-related costs over time, this net benefit may not be achieved in the near term, or at all.

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Whether or not the merger is consummated, we, Sandy Spring and the combined company will incur substantial expenses in pursuing the merger and this may adversely impact our and the combined company’s earnings. Completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will be conditioned upon customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required governmental authorizations, consents, orders and approvals, including approval by certain federal banking regulators, and required approvals from our shareholders and Sandy Spring stockholders. We and Sandy Spring intend to pursue all

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required approvals in accordance with the merger agreement. However, there can be no assurance that such approvals will be obtained without additional cost, on the anticipated timeframe, or at all. Completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will be conditioned upon customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required governmental authorizations, consents, orders, and approvals, including approval by certain federal banking regulators, and required approvals from our shareholders and Sandy Spring stockholders.

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Regulatory approvals for the merger and/or related subsidiary bank merger may not be received, may take longer than expected or may impose conditions that are not currently anticipated, cannot be met, or that could have an adverse effect on the combined company following the merger and/or related subsidiary bank merger.

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Before the proposed merger and related subsidiary bank merger may be completed, various approvals, consents and non-objections must be obtained from bank regulatory authorities, including the Federal Reserve. In determining whether to grant these approvals, regulatory authorities consider a variety of factors, including the regulatory standing of each party. These approvals could be delayed or not obtained at all, including due to any or all of the following: an adverse development in any party’s regulatory standing or any other factors considered by regulators in granting such approvals; governmental, political or community group inquiries, investigations or opposition; or changes in legislation or the political or regulatory environment generally, including as a result of changes of the U.S. executive administration, or Congressional leadership and regulatory agency leadership.

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Even if the approvals are granted, they may impose terms and conditions, limitations, obligations or costs, or place restrictions on the conduct of the combined company’s business or require changes to the terms of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. There can be no assurance that regulators will not impose any such conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions or that such conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions will not have the effect of delaying the completion of any of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, imposing additional material costs on or materially limiting the revenues of the combined company following the merger or otherwise reduce the anticipated benefits of the merger if the merger were completed successfully within the expected timeframe. In addition, there can be no assurance that any such conditions, limitations, obligations or restrictions will not result in the delay or abandonment of the merger. The completion of the merger is conditioned on the receipt of the requisite regulatory approvals without the imposition of any materially burdensome regulatory condition and the expiration of all statutory waiting periods. Additionally, the completion of the merger is conditioned on the absence of certain orders, injunctions or decrees issued by any court or any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction that would prevent, prohibit or make illegal the completion of the merger, the related subsidiary bank merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

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Despite the parties’ expected commitment to use their reasonable best efforts to respond to any request for information and resolve any objection that may be asserted by any governmental entity with respect to the merger agreement, neither party is required under the terms of the merger agreement to take any action, commit to take any action, or agree to any condition or restriction in connection with obtaining these approvals, that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the combined company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, after giving effect to the proposed merger (measured on a scale relative only to the size of Sandy Spring and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (without the Company and its subsidiaries)).

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The merger agreement may be terminated in accordance with its terms and the merger may not be completed. Such failure to complete the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement could cause our results to be adversely affected, our stock price to decline or have a material and adverse effect on our stock price and results of operations.

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If the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, are not completed for any reason, including as a result of our shareholders failing to approve the merger agreement or the issuance of the shares of our common stock constituting the Merger Consideration (the “Share Issuance”) or Sandy Spring stockholders failing to approve the merger agreement, there may be various adverse consequences, and we and/or Sandy Spring may experience negative reactions from the financial markets and from our respective customers and employees. For example, either party’s business may have been impacted adversely by the failure to pursue other beneficial opportunities due to the focus of its management on the merger, without realizing any of the anticipated benefits of completing the merger. Moreover, our stock price may decline because costs related to such transactions, such as legal, accounting and financial advisory fees, must be paid even if such transactions, including the merger, are not completed. Moreover, we may be required to pay a termination fee of $56.0 million to Sandy Spring upon a termination of the merger agreement in certain circumstances. In addition, if the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are not completed, whether because of our failure to receive required regulatory approvals in a timely fashion or because one of the parties has breached its obligations in a way that permits Sandy Spring to terminate the merger agreement, or for any other reason, our stock price may decline to the extent that the current market price reflects a market

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assumption that the merger will be beneficial and will be completed. We and/or Sandy Spring also could be subject to litigation related to any failure to complete the merger or to proceedings commenced against either company to perform our obligations under the merger agreement.

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The market price for our common stock following the closing of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement may be affected by factors different from those that historically have affected or currently affect our common stock and Sandy Spring common stock.

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Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, upon completion of the merger, holders of shares of Sandy Spring common stock will receive shares of our common stock as Merger Consideration. The combined company’s business and financial position will differ from our and Sandy Spring’s respective businesses and financial positions before the completion of the merger and, accordingly, the results of operations of the combined company will be affected by some factors that are different from those currently affecting our results of operations and those currently affecting the results of operations of Sandy Spring. Accordingly, the market price and performance of our common stock is likely to be different from the performance of our common stock in the absence of the merger. In addition, general fluctuations in stock markets could have a material adverse effect on the market for, or liquidity of, our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

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Upon completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, we will be subject to the risks related to Sandy Spring’s business, including its commercial real estate loan portfolio.

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Upon completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, we will be subject to risks related to Sandy Spring’s business and take on its loans, investments and other obligations. This will increase our credit risk and, if such obligations are not repaid or losses are incurred on such obligations, there could be material and adverse effects on our business. Additionally, where our businesses overlap, any risks we face may be increased due to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. For example, we and Sandy Spring each have significant credit exposure in commercial real estate. At September 30, 2024, Sandy Spring’s commercial real estate loan portfolio totaled $7.9 billion, or 68% of its total loan portfolio, which includes $1.7 billion of commercial owner-occupied real estate loans. A large concentration of commercial real estate loans in the combined company involves additional risks because the value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in any of the geographic bank markets in which such real estate is located, as well as because funds for acquisition, development and construction loans (“AD&C loans”) are advanced based on estimates of costs and the estimated value of the completed project and therefore have a greater risk of default in a weaker economy. Construction projects require prudent underwriting, including determination of a borrower’s ability to complete the project, while staying within budget and on time in accordance with construction plans. Economic events, supply chain issues, labor market disruptions, and other factors outside the control of Sandy Spring and our control, or that of the borrowers, could negatively impact the future cash flow and market values of affected properties. At, or shortly after, the completion of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, we and/or Sandy Spring expect to sell approximately $2.0 billion of the commercial real estate loans originally issued by Sandy Spring Bank and/or Atlantic Union Bank to one or more unrelated third parties after a bidding process. When complete, it is expected that the sale would reduce the combined company’s commercial real estate concentration, improve its loan/deposit liquidity profile, and bring the capital ratios of the newly combined entity closer in line with those we maintain pre-merger. However, there is no assurance that we or Sandy Spring will be able to find a prospective purchaser before the consummation of the merger or sell the loans at a price or other terms acceptable to us. Integrating Sandy Spring’s commercial real estate loans to our existing portfolio may exacerbate the existing risks we already undertake with our own portfolio comprised meaningfully of commercial real estate loans, as described in our 2023 10-K under “Item 1A. Risk Factors—We have significant credit exposure in commercial real estate, which may expose us to additional credit r…

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As a result of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement and our acquisition of Sandy Spring, we will record goodwill in connection with such acquisition, and if it becomes impaired, our earnings could be significantly impacted.

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Under current accounting methods, goodwill is not amortized but, instead, is subject to impairment tests on at least an annual basis and more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. In connection with our acquisition of Sandy Spring, we will record goodwill in the fair value amount of such acquisition. Although we do not anticipate impairment charges, if we conclude that some portion of such goodwill is impaired, a non-cash charge for the amount of such impairment would be recorded against earnings.

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A goodwill impairment charge could be caused by a decline in our stock price or the occurrence of a triggering event that compounds negative financial results. Further, because a large portion of Sandy Spring’s portfolio is secured by commercial real estate loans, if such portfolio were to be seen as less valuable in a deteriorating real estate market, or if we and/or Sandy Spring were to sell a portion of Sandy Spring’s commercial real estate loans at a less favorable price following the acquisition, we may be required to record an impairment on our acquisition of Sandy Spring. Therefore, following the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, and our recording of goodwill in connection therewith, if such goodwill becomes impaired, our earnings could be significantly and adversely affected.

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Following the merger, the size of the business of the combined company will increase significantly beyond the current size of either our or Sandy Spring’s business. The combined company’s future success will depend, in part, upon its ability to manage this expanded business, which may pose challenges for management, including challenges related to the management and monitoring of new operations and associated increased costs and complexity. The combined company may also face increased scrutiny from governmental authorities as a result of the significant increase in the size of its business.

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Both Atlantic Union Bank and Sandy Spring Bank are regulated and supervised by the Federal Reserve as well as the CFPB. In addition, at the state level, Atlantic Union Bank is chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia and is supervised and regularly examined by the Bureau of Financial Institutions, a division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission while Sandy Spring Bank is a state-chartered bank and trust company subject to supervision by the Office of Financial Regulation, part of the Maryland Department of Labor. The laws, regulations and regulatory guidance applicable to both banks will therefore differ in ways that may affect the operations of the combined company. Additionally, the internal policies of Atlantic Union Bank and Sandy Spring Bank with regards to their investment portfolios may differ on factors such as hold limits per bond issuer, life of the bond, or credit risk appetite. As a result, there are assets on the balance sheet of Sandy Spring Bank that the bank subsidiary of the combined company is not expected to hold, whether based on differences in regulatory oversight or internal policies, and we may dispose of such assets contemporaneous or subsequent to the closing of the merger. The disposition of certain assets in a high-interest rate environment, such as we have in the past experienced, are currently experiencing and may experience again in the future, could result in a sale of assets at a market price that is different than the estimated book value of such assets and impact regulatory capital ratios at the time of the closing of the merger. Further, we may replace such disposed assets with lower-yielding investments, any of which could impact our future earnings and return on equity.

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There can be no assurances that the combined company will be successful or that it will realize the expected operating efficiencies, cost savings or other benefits currently anticipated from the merger.

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We and Sandy Spring will be subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the merger is pending.

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Uncertainty about the effect of the merger on employees, customers (including depositors and borrowers), suppliers and vendors may have an adverse effect on us and Sandy Spring. These uncertainties may impair our and Sandy Spring’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel and customers (including depositors and borrowers) until the merger is completed, as such personnel and customers may experience uncertainty about their future roles and relationships following the completion of the merger. Additionally, these uncertainties could cause customers and others that deal with us or Sandy Spring to seek to change existing business relationships with us or Sandy Spring or fail to extend an existing relationship with us or Sandy Spring, as applicable. Competitors may target each party’s existing customers by highlighting potential uncertainties and integration difficulties that may result from the merger.

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In addition, subject to certain exceptions, we and Sandy Spring have agreed to operate our respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice in all material respects before closing, and we and Sandy Spring have agreed not to take certain actions, which could cause us or Sandy Spring to be unable to pursue other beneficial opportunities that may arise before the completion of the merger.

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Shareholder litigation could prevent or delay the completion of the merger or otherwise negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Shareholders of Atlantic Union and/or stockholders of Sandy Spring may file lawsuits against the Company, Sandy Spring and/or the directors and officers of either company in connection with the merger. One of the conditions to the closing is that no law, order, injunction or decree issued by any court or governmental entity of competent jurisdiction that would prevent,

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prohibit or make illegal the completion of the merger, the subsidiary bank merger, or any of the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement be in effect. If any plaintiff were successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting the Company or Sandy Spring from completing the merger, the subsidiary bank merger, or any of the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, then such injunction may delay or prevent the effectiveness of the merger and could result in significant costs to either party, including any cost associated with the indemnification of its directors and officers. We and Sandy Spring may incur costs relating to the defense or settlement of any shareholder lawsuits filed in connection with the merger. Shareholder lawsuits may divert management attention from management of each company’s business or operations. Such litigation could have an adverse effect on such party’s business, financial condition and results of operations and could prevent or delay the completion of the merger.

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The merger will not be completed unless important conditions are satisfied or waived, including approval of the merger agreement by our shareholders and Sandy Spring stockholders and approval of the Share Issuance by our shareholders.

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Specified conditions set forth in the merger agreement must be satisfied or waived to complete the merger. If the conditions are not satisfied or, subject to applicable law, waived, the merger will not occur or will be delayed and each of Sandy Spring and us may lose some or all of the intended benefits of the merger.