Farmers National Banc Corp. and Emclaire Financial Corp. Announce Regulatory Approvals for Merger

Rhea-AI Summary

Farmers National Banc Corp. (FMNB) and Emclaire Financial Corp. (EMCF) have received necessary regulatory approvals for their merger. This merger will integrate Emclaire into Farmers National Banc Corp. through FMNB Merger Subsidiary V, LLC, and Emlenton Bank will merge with Farmers National Bank. The merger is aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and expanding market reach, with completion expected in January 2023.

Positive

• Regulatory approvals received from Federal Reserve and OCC for merger.
• Expected operational synergies and market expansion from the merger.
• Strengthened market presence with the integration of Emlenton Bank.

Negative

• Potential delays in merger completion due to further regulatory conditions.
• Risks related to successful integration of Emclaire and Emlenton Bank with Farmers.

CANFIELD, Ohio and EMLENTON, Penn., Dec. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers National Banc Corp. (“Farmers” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: FMNB), the holding company for The Farmers National Bank of Canfield (“Farmers National Bank”), and Emclaire Financial Corp. (“Emclaire”) (NASDAQ: EMCF), the holding company for The Farmers National Bank of Emlenton (“Emlenton Bank”), jointly announced today that they have received regulatory approvals, including approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, necessary to complete the proposed merger of Emclaire Financial Corp. with and into FMNB Merger Subsidiary V, LLC, a newly-formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Farmers (the “Merger”) pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 23, 2023 by and between Farmers and Emclaire (the “Merger Agreement”), and the related merger of Emlenton Bank with and into Farmers National Bank. The Merger is expected to be completed in January of 2023.

ABOUT FARMERS NATIONAL BANC CORP.

Founded in 1887, Farmers National Banc Corp. is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Canfield, Ohio, with $4.1 billion in banking assets. Farmers National Banc Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiaries are comprised of The Farmers National Bank of Canfield, a full-service national bank engaged in commercial and retail banking with 46 banking locations in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Stark, Summit, Portage, Wayne, Medina, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties in Ohio and Beaver County in Pennsylvania; Farmers Trust Company, which operates five trust offices and offers services in the same geographic markets and Farmers National Insurance, LLC. Total wealth management assets under care at September 30, 2022 were $2.9 billion.

ABOUT EMCLAIRE FINANCIAL CORP.

Emclaire Financial Corp. is the parent company of the Farmers National Bank of Emlenton, an independent, nationally chartered, FDIC-insured community commercial bank headquartered in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, operating 19 full service offices in Venango, Allegheny, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Jefferson and Mercer Counties, Pennsylvania. The Corporation’s common stock is quoted on and traded through NASDAQ under the symbol “EMCF”. For more information visit Emclaire’s website at www.emclairefinancial.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not historical facts, but rather statements based on Farmers’ and Emclaire’s current expectations regarding its business strategies and its intended results and future performance. Forward-looking statements are preceded by terms such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends” and similar expressions, as well as any statements related to future expectations of performance or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could” or “may.”

Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual future results could differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of Farmers’ and Emclaire’s control. Numerous uncertainties, risks, and changes could cause or contribute to Farmers’ or Emclaire’s actual results, performance, and achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause or contribute to these differences include, without limitation, the possibility that the closing of the proposed transaction is delayed or does not occur at all because required regulatory approvals or other conditions to the transaction are not obtained or satisfied on a timely basis or at all; the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction are not realized when expected or at all; Farmers’ and Emclaire’s failure to integrate Emclaire and Emlenton Bank with Farmers and Farmers Bank in accordance with expectations; deviations from performance expectations related to Emclaire and Emlenton Bank; diversion of management’s attention on the proposed transaction; general economic conditions in markets where Farmers and Emclaire conduct business, which could materially impact credit quality trends; effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local, national, and international economy, Farmers’ or Emclaire’s organization and employees, and Farmers’ and Emclaire’s customers and suppliers and their business operations and financial condition; disruptions in the mortgage and lending markets and significant or unexpected fluctuations in interest rates related to COVID-19 and governmental responses, including financial stimulus packages; general business conditions in the banking industry; the regulatory environment; general fluctuations in interest rates; demand for loans in the market areas where Farmers and Emclaire conduct business; rapidly changing technology and evolving banking industry standards; competitive factors, including increased competition with regional and national financial institutions; and new service and product offerings by competitors and price pressures; and other factors disclosed periodically in Farmers’ and Emclaire’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Because of the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them, whether included in this release or made elsewhere from time to time by Farmers, Emclaire or on Farmers’ or Emclaire’s behalf, respectively. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and neither Farmers nor Emclaire assumes any duty and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements.

Farmers and Emclaire provide further detail regarding these risks and uncertainties in their respective latest Annual Reports on Form 10-K, including in the risk factors section of Farmers’ latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent SEC filings, available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

Additional information about the Merger and the Merger Agreement is available in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Farmers with the SEC on March 24, 2022, as well as in the proxy statement/prospectus filed by each of Farmers and Emclaire on June 15, 2022.

Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Farmers or Emclaire through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Farmers are available free of charge by accessing the “Investor Relations” section of Farmers’ website at www.farmersbankgroup.com or, alternatively, by directing a request to Farmers Investor Relations, Farmers National Banc Corp., 20 South Broad Street, Canfield, Ohio 44406, (330) 533-3341. Copies of the documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Emclaire may be obtained without charge from Emclaire by written request to Emclaire Financial Corp., 612 Main Street, Emlenton, Pennsylvania 16373, Attention: Jennifer A. Poulsen, Secretary.

Contact:
Amber Wallace
Senior Vice President, Chief Retail/Marketing Officer
330-720-6441
awallace@farmersbankgroup.com

William C. Marsh
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
844-767-2311
investor.relations@farmersnb.com 

FAQ

What is the significance of the merger between Farmers National Banc Corp. and Emclaire Financial Corp.?

The merger aims to enhance operational efficiency and expand market reach, benefiting both companies.

What regulatory approvals were obtained for the EMCF merger?

Approvals were secured from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

When is the merger between Farmers National Banc Corp. and Emclaire Financial Corp. expected to be completed?

The merger is anticipated to be completed in January 2023.

What are the potential risks associated with the merger of EMCF?

Risks include possible delays in completion and challenges in integrating the two banking entities.