SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 12, 2017
 
Northwest Bancshares, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Maryland
 
1-34582
 
27-0950358
(State or other jurisdiction
 
(Commission File No.)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)
 
 
 
Identification No.)
 
100 Liberty Street
Warren, Pennsylvania
 
16365
(Address of principal executive office)
 
(Zip code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:        (814) 726-2140
 
 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4 (c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an merging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 
o                      Emerging growth company
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   o









Item 8.01                                           Other Events

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Northwest Bank (the “Bank”), have initiated a search to hire an individual who would serve in a to-be created position of President and Chief Operating Officer.  William J. Wagner, currently the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, would remain Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  The search will consider both internal and external candidates.  The Company estimates that the search will take four to six months to be completed.

     
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

            This Current Report on Form 8-K may contain forward-looking statements regarding the future operations of the Company and the Bank. For these statements, the Company and the Bank claim the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this communication should be considered in conjunction with the other information available about the Company and the Bank, including the information in the filings each make with the SEC. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by using words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “would,” “will” and similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.

            Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company and the Bank do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the events or circumstances after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made, or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.   
    
Item 9.01                                           Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
None.



SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 
 
 
NORTHWEST BANCSHARES, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
DATE:
July 12, 2017
 
By:
/s/ William W. Harvey, Jr.
 
 
 
William W. Harvey, Jr.
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer