UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange
Act of 1934
Filed
by
the Registrant x
Filed
by
a Party other than the Registrant o
Check
the
appropriate box:
| o |
Preliminary
Proxy Statement
|
| o |
Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
|
| o |
Definitive
Proxy Statement
|
| x |
Definitive
Additional Materials
|
| o |
Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12
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First
Financial Bancorp.
(Name
of
Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing fee (Check the appropriate box)
| x |
No
fee required.
|
| o |
Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
|
|
1)
|
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3)
|
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
|
| 4) |
Proposed maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
|
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5)
|
Total
fee paid:
|
| o |
Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
|
|
o
|
Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
|
| 1) |
Amount
Previously Paid:
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| 2) |
Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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| 3) |
Filing
party:
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| 4) |
Date filed:
|
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December
4,
2008
Dear
First Financial Bancorp Shareholder:
You
recently received proxy materials in connection with a special meeting of
shareholders of First
Financial Bancorp
to be
held on Thursday, December 11, 2008, and according to our latest records, your
PROXY
VOTE for
this
meeting HAS
NOT YET BEEN RECEIVED.
First
Financial is asking shareholders to vote on Proposal 1: The
amendment to our Articles of Incorporation;
and
Proposal 2: To adjourn the special meeting to solicit additional votes, if
necessary. Please refer to the proxy materials previously mailed to you for
additional information.
Since
the
required vote to approve Proposal 1 is an affirmative vote of
two-thirds of
all
shares outstanding and eligible to vote, your failure to vote will have the
same
effect as a vote “AGAINST”
this
proposal.
The
Board
of Directors fully recommend a “FOR”
vote
on
both proposals.
Regardless
of the number of shares you own, it is important that they be represented at
the
special shareholders meeting. Your vote matters to us and we need your support.
Please
vote your shares now so that your vote can be counted without delay.
Voting
is
easy. You may utilize one of the options below to ensure that your vote is
promptly recorded in time for the special stockholders meeting:
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§
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VOTE
BY TOUCHTONE PHONE:
You may cast your vote by calling the toll-free number on the enclosed
proxy card. Follow the instructions on your proxy card to cast your
ballot.
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§
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VOTE
THROUGH THE INTERNET:
You may cast your vote by logging into the Internet address located
on the
enclosed proxy card and follow the instructions on the website.
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§
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VOTE
BY MAIL:
You may cast your vote by mail by signing, dating and mailing the
enclosed
proxy card in the postage-prepaid return envelope
provided.
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YOUR
PARTICIPATION IS IMPORTANT - PLEASE VOTE TODAY!
If
you
have any questions relating to the special shareholders meeting, voting your
shares, or need to request additional proxy materials, you may call our proxy
specialists toll-free at 866-828-0221
between
the hours of 9:00
a.m.
and 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
We
appreciate your continued support.
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Sincerely,
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Sincerely,
 |
|
Barry
S. Porter
Chairman
of the Board
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Claude
E. Davis
President
& Chief Executive Officer
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IF
YOU HAVE RECENTLY MAILED YOUR PROXY OR CAST YOUR VOTE BY PHONE OR OVER THE
INTERNET, PLEASE ACCEPT OUR THANKS AND DISREGARD THIS
REQUEST.