---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-26-007678"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "STEL"
cik: "0001473844"
company_name: "Stellar Bancorp, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-01-29T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T06:23:40.083513+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Stellar Bancorp to be acquired by Prosperity Bancshares in stock-and-cash deal

## Summary
- Stellar stockholders to receive 0.3803 Prosperity shares and $11.36 cash per share.
- Termination fee of $78 million payable by Stellar under certain conditions.
- Directors holding ~8.8% of Stellar shares entered voting agreements to support the merger.
- Two Stellar directors to join Prosperity board after closing; Stellar equity awards cashed out.
- Closing requires Stellar shareholder vote, regulatory approvals, and no legal restraints.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-26-007678
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: STEL
- cik: 0001473844
- company_name: Stellar Bancorp, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-01-29T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1473844/000110465926007678/0001104659-26-007678-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1473844/000110465926007678/tm264235d6_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-007678
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-007678.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-007678.txt

## Key facts
- Material Agreements
  Stellar Bancorp, Inc. entered into Agreement and Plan of Merger with Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. (effective 2026-01-27).
  - Action: entry
  - Agreement: merger
  - Counterparty: Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.
  - Effective: 2026-01-27
  source text: On January 27, 2026, Stellar Bancorp, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Stellar”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Prosperity Bancshares, Inc., a Texas corporation (“Prosperity”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1473844/000110465926007678/0001104659-26-007678-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.