On June 30, 2025, CNB Financial Corporation (“CNB”) and ESSA Bancorp, Inc. (“ESSA”) issued a joint press release announcing that they have received the requisite bank regulatory approvals and waivers from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia necessary for CNB to complete its acquisition of ESSA and ESSA Bank & Trust. CNB anticipates closing the transaction on July 23, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Forward Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements about CNB and ESSA and their industry involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Statements other than statements of current or historical fact, including statements regarding CNB’s or ESSA’s future financial condition, results of operations, business plans, liquidity, cash flows, projected costs, and the impact of any laws or regulations applicable to CNB or ESSA, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “should” and other similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results.
Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the following: (i) CNB’s and ESSA’s ability to complete the proposed merger with on the proposed terms or on the anticipated timeline, or at all, including risks and uncertainties related to satisfaction of other closing conditions to consummate the proposed merger; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement relating to the proposed merger; (iii) risks related to diverting the attention of management from ongoing business operations; (iv) failure to realize the expected benefits of the proposed merger; (v) significant transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities; (vi) the risk of shareholder litigation in connection with the proposed merger, including resulting expense or delay; (vii) the risk that ESSA’s business will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (viii) risks related to future opportunities and plans for the combined company, including the uncertainty of expected future financial performance and results of the combined company following completion of the proposed merger; (ix) the effect of the announcement of the proposed merger on the ability of CNB and ESSA to operate their respective businesses and retain and hire key personnel and to maintain favorable business relationships; (x) risks related to the market value of the CNB common stock to be issued in the proposed merger; (xi) other risks related to the completion of the proposed merger and actions related thereto; (xii) the dilution caused by CNB’s issuance of additional shares of its capital stock in connection with the proposed merger; (xiii) national, international, regional and local economic and political climates and conditions; (xiv) changes in general economic conditions, including changes in market interest rates and changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; and (xv) legislative and regulatory changes. Further information about these and other relevant risks and uncertainties may be found in CNB’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, in ESSA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and in subsequent filings CNB and ESSA make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. CNB and ESSA do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
| Item 9.01. |
Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits
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| Exhibit Number |
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Description |
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| 99.1 |
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Joint press release dated June 30, 2025 |
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| 104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |