In Brief: Texas Insurer Offers $50M for Bank Firm

A Fort Worth insurance company is aiming to acquire Fort Bend Holding Corp. for about $50 million.

Millers Mutual Fire Insurance Co. has offered from $38 to $42 per share for Rosenberg, Tex.-based Fort Bend and its subsidiary, Fort Bend Federal Savings and Loan Association, according to a March 11 letter filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Privately held Millers, which already owns about 9% of the $300 million- asset thrift, would operate Fort Bend as a wholly owned subsidiary.

Millers officials were not available for comment. In the SEC filing, the company said it wants to complete the merger by May 31.

Fort Bend president Lane Ward said he could not comment on Millers' offer. But in a press release, the thrift said it "may continue to pursue this offer" and that it has hired investment bank Charles Webb & Co. to help evaluate its options.

Fort Bend's stock price rose 32% Monday, by $6.75 to close at $27.50. At midday Tuesday, it was trading at $28.50.

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