Company: NWBI
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form Type: S-4/A
Source: 0001193125-25-030716
Chunk: 7

Company: Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-02-20
Form: S-4/A
Chunk 7
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ERENCE                                     |     | 89 |

Annexes:

| ANNEX A |     | Agreement and Plan of Merger |     | A-1 |
| ANNEX B |     | Opinion of Stephens Inc.     |     | B-1 |

ii

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE SPECIAL MEETING The following are answers to certain questions that you may have regarding the Penns Woods special meeting of shareholders. You are urged to read carefully the remainder of this document because the information in this section may not provide all the information that might be important to you in determining how to vote. Additional important information is also contained in the appendices to, and the documents incorporated by reference in, this document.

| Q: | Why am I receiving this proxy statement/prospectus? |

Penns Woods is holding a special meeting of its shareholders (the “Penns Woods Special Meeting”) to obtain the required approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, by Penns Woods’ shareholders. This document constitutes the proxy statement of Penns Woods for use in soliciting proxies for the Penns Woods Special Meeting. This document is also a prospectus that is being delivered to Penns Woods’ shareholders because, in connection with the Merger, Northwest is offering shares of Northwest common stock to holders of shares of Penns Woods’ common stock. This proxy statement/prospectus contains important information about the Merger and the special meeting of the shareholders of Penns Woods, and you should read it carefully. The enclosed voting materials allow you to vote your Penns Woods’ common stock without attending the special meeting. Your vote is important, and we encourage you to submit your proxy as soon as possible.

| Q: | What will happen in the Merger? |

| A: | In the Merger, Penns Woods will merge with and into Northwest. Each share of Penns Woods common stock issued                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
 and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) will be converted into the right to receive 2.385 shares (the “Exchange Ratio” and such shares, the “Merger Consideration”) of                                                                                                                                                                               
 Northwest common stock. After completion of the Merger, Penns Woods will cease to exist, and will no longer be a public company. Penns Woods’ common stock will be delisted from the Nasdaq Global Select Market®, will be deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (