City National Bank today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire First American Equipment Finance, a privately owned, full-service mid-ticket equipment leasing company that owns and services approximately $325 million in assets.
 
Headquartered in Rochester, New York, First American Equipment Finance leases technology and office equipment nationwide. Its clients include educational institutions, hospitals and health systems, large law firms, insurance underwriters, enterprise businesses, professional service businesses and nonprofit organizations. The company employs approximately 100 people. Its lease transactions typically range between $250,000 and $3 million.

"In order to expand its long-standing leasing business, City National identified First American Equipment Finance as the best company to add to its organization," said City National Bank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Russell Goldsmith. "First American's outstanding management team led by Bill Verhelle, its strong reputation and client relationships, great products and marketing skills, and a similar focus on certain key industries are an ideal fit with City National.
 
"Combining First American Equipment Finance's many strengths, its talented team and national reach with City National's lower funding costs and access to thousands of clients will enhance the capabilities of both companies to more profitably and effectively meet the equipment leasing needs of clients and more rapidly build our equipment leasing business."
 
First American's CEO, Bill Verhelle, and his management team will continue to lead the company, which will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of City National Bank. Verhelle will report to the bank's president, Christopher Warmuth.  "We're very pleased to have found such a great partner in City National," Verhelle said. "Joining forces with the nation's 26th largest bank will allow us to provide clients with even better service and support. It also will give us better capital access, lower-cost funding and many of the other resources we need to continue our strong growth trajectory."

City National has been leasing equipment to business clients and municipal agencies for many years. At March 31, 2012, the company's business and municipal lease portfolios together totaled $418 million. However, City National leases other types of equipment principally to its clients in the communities it serves.
 
The all-cash transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of this year, and will be modestly accretive to earnings in 2012.

The Alta Group acted as a financial advisor to City National.
 
City National Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of City National Corporation. It is backed by $24 billion in total assets, and provides banking, investment and trust services through 79 offices, including 16 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville and Atlanta. The company and its investment affiliates today manage or administer $57.8 billion in client investment assets, including $32.5 billion under direct management.

For more information about City National, visit the company's Website at cnb.com.
 
First American Equipment Finance provides technology equipment financing solutions for middle-market and investment-grade borrowers. The company has been recognized repeatedly by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States.