WSFS Financial Corporation and Bryn Mawr Bank Corporation jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement whereby Bryn Mawr will merge with WSFS Financial Corporation, in a transaction valued at approximately $976.4 million. Simultaneously with the merger, The Bryn Mawr Trust Company (BMT), the wholly owned subsidiary of Bryn Mawr, will merge into WSFS Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of WSFS.
The combination of two of the high-performing, locally based financial services companies in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region solidifies WSFS’ position as the preeminent, locally headquartered bank for this region. With nearly $20 billion in assets and an approximately $43 billion Wealth Management business as of Dec. 31, WSFS believes that following the merger it will be the only bank in the region with distinct market-share advantages, including market knowledge, local decision-making, a full-service product suite and a balance sheet to compete with larger regional and national banks.
“This combination aligns with our strategic plan,” said Rodger Levenson, WSFS’ Chairman, President and CEO. “Combining with Bryn Mawr allows us to accelerate our long-term strategic objectives, including scale to continue to invest in our delivery and talent transformations. This combination also creates the premier wealth management and trust business in the region and the sixth largest bank-affiliated wealth management and trust business nationwide under $100 billion in assets. Together, we are poised and positioned to continue to serve and outperform for all our constituents, and to deliver sustainable high performance for years to come.”
Frank Leto, President and CEO of Bryn Mawr, said, “We strongly believe in the value creation by combining with WSFS and enhancing the strengths of our institutions. This is a sound decision for Bryn Mawr, our stockholders, our Clients and the communities we serve. We are combining with WSFS because it is an established institution with deep roots in the region and the utmost focus on doing the right thing for our Clients.”
The combination is WSFS’ ninth since 2010, including traditional banks and other fee-based businesses in southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. WSFS’ proven track record of successful integrations, combined with its strong organic growth and purposeful expansion into the Greater Philadelphia region, has resulted in significant community and economic investments.
To continue its commitment to the communities it serves, WSFS is making a $2 million grant to the WSFS Community Foundation to support underserved communities as part of its mission. Both companies’ long-standing commitment to serve their communities will remain vital to WSFS’ future.
WSFS anticipates consolidating approximately 30 percent of the combined banking offices due to geographic overlap and optimization opportunities within the network.
WSFS expects pre-tax merger and restructuring costs of approximately $127 million and to achieve annual cost synergies of approximately $73 million, once fully phased in by 2023. The merger is expected to be accretive to WSFS’ earnings per share in 2022, excluding the one-time merger and restructuring costs noted above, and 13.4 percent accretive once all synergies are achieved in 2023, generating an internal rate of return (IRR) of approximately 18.0 percent.
After closing, Frank Leto, President and CEO of Bryn Mawr, will join the Boards of Directors of WSFS Financial and WSFS Bank along with two mutually agreed upon current directors of Bryn Mawr’s Board.
The merger agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary approvals by regulators and stockholders of both companies. Pending those approvals, the transaction is expected to close early in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Piper Sandler & Co. acted as financial advisor to WSFS, and its legal counsel was Covington & Burling LLP. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., A Stifel Company, acted as financial advisor to Bryn Mawr and its legal counsel was Squire Patton Boggs LLP.