Alston & Bird client Heritage Financial Group, Inc., a bank holding company headquartered in Albany, GA, has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired, in an all-stock merger, by Renasant Corporation. The aggregate deal value is approximately $258 million.

Heritage Financial is the holding company for HeritageBank of the South, a community-oriented bank serving primarily Georgia, Florida and Alabama through 36 banking locations, 20 mortgage offices and 5 investment offices. Based in Mississippi and one of the largest community banks operating in the Southeast, Renasant is the parent company of Renasant Bank and Renasant Insurance. It has more than 120 banking, mortgage, financial services and insurance offices spread across Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

Heritage was advised by an Alston & Bird team led by partner Mark Kanaly, assisted by partner Dave A. Brown, senior associate Julie Mediamolle (Corporate & Finance), partner Blake MacKay and counsel Kerry Wenzel (Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation).