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EXHIBIT 99
NEWS RELEASE [HUNTINGTON LOGO]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SUBMITTED: FEBRUARY 7, 2000
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES EMPIRE BANC
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ANALYSTS
LAURIE COUNSEL (614) 480-3878 WILLIAM T. FITZGERALD, JR. (231) 922-5615
MEDIA
TAMARA LUBIC (MI MEDIA) (616) 355-9679 ROBERT L. ISRAEL (231) 922-5614
GAIL GERSHWILM (OH MEDIA) (614) 480-5413
HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES TO ACQUIRE EMPIRE BANC CORPORATION
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (NASDAQ: HBAN;
www.huntington.com) and Empire Banc Corporation (OTC: EMBM) jointly announced
today they have signed a definitive agreement for Huntington to acquire Empire
Banc Corporation, a bank holding company headquartered in Traverse City,
Michigan.
Empire Banc Corporation, with assets of $505.7 million and deposits of
$418.4 million, has 10 offices and 12 ATMs in northern Michigan. For the year
ended December 31, 1999, Empire Banc's net income was $7.3 million, with a
corresponding return on assets of 1.47% and a return on equity of 17.03%. Five
of the 10 offices to be purchased by Huntington are in Grand Traverse County;
the addition of these offices will increase Huntington's market share in that
county from seventh to second. Upon completion of the acquisition, Huntington
will have more than 130 banking offices, 200 ATMs, and 4.6 billion of deposits
in the state of Michigan.
"This affiliation is an excellent opportunity for Huntington to acquire
market share in Michigan that complements our already strong presence in that
state," said Frank Wobst, chairman and chief executive officer of Huntington
Bancshares Incorporated. "We recently have been successful in improving our
efficiency and streamlining our operations, including moving to a
state-of-the-art operations facility, and now we're poised to grow. Huntington
is pleased to have found such an attractive partner in Empire Banc, whose strong
performance ratios and emphasis on high asset quality so closely match our own.
We have great respect for the banking franchise that three generations of the
Dutmers family have built and the role they've played in the development of the
area's economy."
(more)
Visit The Huntington's web site at www.huntington.com
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"This agreement is exciting because it represents a significant
opportunity to serve Empire's customers, who will benefit from the additional
breadth of products and services Huntington has to offer," said Bill Kleven,
president of Huntington's Northwest Region.
Empire Banc shareholders will receive 2.0355 Huntington shares for each
share of Empire Banc in a tax-free exchange. This is equivalent to approximately
$43.25 per share based on Huntington's closing stock price on February 4, 2000.
The acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase and is expected to close by
the end of the second quarter of 2000. It is anticipated to be neutral to
earnings per share for 2000 and to be slightly accretive by 2001. Huntington
plans to issue approximately 6.5 million shares in connection with the
transaction, which are to be purchased on the open market.
"The decision to change strategic direction was not easy, but we are
confident our choice of Huntington is the right one for all of our
constituencies - our employees, customers, and stockholders," said James E.
Dutmers, Jr., chief executive officer of Empire Banc Corporation. "We have had
the privilege of getting to know the management team at Huntington and believe
Huntington, with its customer and community focus, innovative technology,
diversity of businesses, and financial strength, is the ideal partner for us as
we prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the next century." Continued
Dutmers, "This affiliation with Huntington enhances shareholder value, as our
shareholders receive a significant increase in the value of their investment
through capital appreciation and cash dividends."
Huntington Bancshares is a regional bank holding company headquartered
in Columbus, Ohio with assets of $29 billion. The Huntington has more than 134
years of serving the financial needs of its customers.
The Huntington provides innovative products and services through its
more than 600 offices in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland,
Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
International banking services are made available through the headquarters
office in Columbus and additional offices located in the Cayman Islands and Hong
Kong. The Huntington also offers products and services through its
technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank, a network of more than 1,400
ATMs, and its Web Bank at www.huntington.com.
For faxed copies of current news releases, please call our
fax-on-demand service, Company News on Call, at (800) 758-5804 extension 423276.
(more)
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT DISCLOSURE:
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements,
including certain plans, expectations, goals, and projections, which are subject
to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Actual results could differ
materially from those contained or implied by such statements for a variety of
factors including: changes in economic conditions; movements in interest rates;
competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success and timing of
business strategies; the successful integration of acquired businesses; the
nature, extent, and timing of governmental actions and reforms; and extended
disruption of vital infrastructure.
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HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INCORPORATED
ACQUISITION OF EMPIRE BANC CORPORATION
Profile of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated
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- Headquarters - Columbus, Ohio
- 12/31/99 Assets - $29.04 billion
- Twelve Months Ended 12/31/99 Performance
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Net Income $422.1 million
Return on Average Assets 1.47%
Return on Average Equity 19.66%
Efficiency Ratio 51.76%
Book Value per Share 9.53
Assets ($billions)
- Principal Markets As of December 31, 1999
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Ohio $ 16.95
Michigan $ 4.31
Florida $ 2.70
Kentucky $ 1.94
West Virginia $ 1.41
Indiana $ 1.21
Profile of Empire Banc Corporation
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- Headquarters - Traverse City, Michigan
- 12/31/99 Assets $505.7 million
Deposits $418.4 million
Equity $45.9 million
Banking Offices 10
- Twelve Months Ended 12/31/99 Performance
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Net Income $7.3 million
Return on Average Assets 1.47%
Return on Average Equity 17.03%
Efficiency Ratio 61.40%