Under the terms of the announced transaction, Tri-County shareholders are slated to receive an implied value of $82.89 per share. Investors may opt for a mix of HBT Financial common stock, a cash payment of $71.01 per share, or a blend of both, contingent on proration requirements. Upon completion, legacy Tri-County stakeholders will hold roughly 9% of the combined entity.

Legal analysts at Ademi LLP flagged concerns regarding "change of control" provisions that grant significant benefits to Tri-County insiders. Furthermore, the agreement includes restrictive clauses that impose financial penalties on Tri-County should the board entertain competing acquisition bids. The investigation aims to determine if these constraints and the overall deal structure unfairly prioritize internal interests over the broader shareholder base.