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WFG Capital Advisors Announces that Harleysville
National Corporation Completes Its Acquisition of the
Cornerstone Companies, a $1.5 Billion Investment Advisor,
Life Insurance and Business Consulting Firm
HARRISBURG, PA – January 25, 2006 --
Harleysville National Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Harleysville National Corporation (Nasdaq: HNBC) has
completed the acquisition of the Cornerstone Companies
(Cornerstone), registered investment advisors for high net
worth, privately held business owners, wealthy families and
institutional clients. Located in Lehigh Valley,
Pennsylvania, the firm specializes in providing
sophisticated open architecture asset management platforms,
business succession and estate planning services, life
insurance sales and compensation and benefits consulting.
With assets under management of approximately $1.5 billion,
Cornerstone serves clients within the Harleysville
footprint, throughout Pennsylvania and other mid-Atlantic
states.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cornerstone
will now become a part of Millennium Wealth Management and
Private Banking, a division of Harleysville National Bank.
The firm's more than 30 professionals will continue to
operate under the direction of its three principals, Jack
Yaissle, Malcolm Cowen and Tom Scalici. As a result of the
acquisition, assets under management for Millennium Wealth
Management and Private Banking increased from $850 million
to $2.350 billion.
WFG Capital Advisors LP of Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania served as exclusive financial advisor to
Cornerstone Companies.
Gregg J. Wagner, President and Chief
Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased to officially
welcome Cornerstone to the Harleysville team. As with many
successful acquisitions, the most important element is the
people. We're excited to have Cornerstone's professionals
working with us. Together we will broaden our wealth
management products and services, grow our business client
base and position our Millennium Wealth Management and
Private Banking division as a leader in our market."
Jack Yaissle, Chairman of Cornerstone,
stated, "We view our relationship with Harleysville as a
joining of partners who complement each other. We will look
to work closely with the entire team to maximize the value
we bring to our combined customers."
Under the agreement, Harleysville National
Bank acquired Cornerstone for an amount not exceeding $22.0
million. The purchase includes $15.0 million in cash paid at
closing. The transaction is structured to provide for the
payment of additional amounts based on meeting certain
minimum operating results during a five-year period with a
maximum payout of $7.0 million in cash. The company expects
the transaction to be immediately accretive to Harleysville
National Corporation's earnings per share.
Harleysville National
Corporation, with assets in excess of $3 billion, is the
holding company for Harleysville National Bank (HNB).
Investment Management and Trust Services are provided
through Millennium Wealth Management and Private Banking, a
division of HNB.
Harleysville National Corporation stock is traded under the
symbol “HNBC” and is commonly quoted under
Nasdaq National Market
Issues. For more information, visit the Harleysville
National Corporation website at
www.hncbank.com.
About WFG Capital
Advisors LP
WFG Capital Advisors, a PA-based investment banking firm
specializing in the insurance industry, served as the
exclusive financial advisor to Cornerstone Companies.
Media Contacts:
Robert J. Lieblein,
President & CEO
(717) 780-7801 /
rlieblein@wfgca.com
Steven S.
Wevodau, Managing Principal
(717) 780-7802 /
swevodau@wfgca.com
www.wfgca.com |