FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. and First Priority Financial Corp. Announce Agreement to Merge

MILLERSBURG, Pa. (Jan. 16, 2018) (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. (“Mid Penn”) (NASDAQ:  MPB), headquartered in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, and First Priority Financial Corp. (“First Priority”) (OTCQX: FPBK), headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, today jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Mid

Penn will acquire First Priority in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $82 million based upon Mid Penn’s 20-day volume weighted average price of $33.71 as of January 12, 2018. The merger, unanimously approved by both boards of directors, will expand Mid Penn’s footprint into the attractive demographic markets of southeastern Pennsylvania, including Chester, Berks, Montgomery and Bucks counties, creating a community banking franchise with approximately $2.2 billion in assets, $1.8 billion in deposits and $1.6 billion in loans.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, shareholders of First Priority common stock will receive 0.3481 shares of Mid Penn common stock for each share of First Priority common stock they own. All options to purchase First Priority common stock will be cashed out upon completion of the merger.

“We are pleased to be partnering with First Priority which, much like Mid Penn, has developed a reputation for providing excellent service and customized solutions to its customers,” said Mid Penn President and CEO Rory G. Ritrievi. “This merger provides us with the opportunity to expand into several new and dynamic markets while also bringing on board a number of well-respected, talented employees from all areas of the bank. It also provides an attractive financial return to both sets of shareholders. We look forward to continuing our development of a statewide presence, and inviting customers throughout southeastern Pennsylvania to experience the Mid Penn brand of community banking.”

“At First Priority Bank, we are very focused on providing our customers with exceptional service and our shareholders with a meaningful return on their investment,” said First Priority Chairman and CEO David E. Sparks. “Mid Penn is an ideal partner for First Priority, one with a strategic focus on their customers, employees, shareholders and community. This partnership will enable us to provide even more value to these constituencies. We are very pleased to announce this merger and look forward to being a part of Mid Penn’s growing footprint.”

The transaction is expected to be accretive to earnings per share with a tangible book value dilution earn back in under 3 years.

Subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals, the merger is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018. Following completion of the merger, First Priority Bank will be merged with and into Mid Penn Bank and will operate as “First Priority Bank, a division of Mid Penn Bank.” Four First Priority Directors will join the boards of Mid Penn and Mid Penn Bank, including David E. Sparks, who will lead the First Priority division and have an active leadership role in the combined company as Chief Strategic Advisor.

Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. served as financial advisor and Pillar+Aught served as legal advisor to Mid Penn in the transaction. Griffin Financial Group LLC acted as financial advisor and Stevens & Lee, P.C. acted as legal advisor to First Priority.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

The proposed transaction will be submitted to the shareholders of First Priority and Mid Penn for their consideration and approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, Mid Penn will be filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on

Form S-4, which will include a joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to be distributed to the shareholders of Mid Penn and First Priority. Investors are urged to read the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information. Investors will be able to obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Mid Penn and First Priority, free of charge from the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov), or by contacting Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc., 349

Union Street, Millersburg, Pennsylvania 17061, attention: Investor Relations (telephone (717)692-7105); or First Priority Financial Corp., 2 West Liberty Boulevard, Suite 104, Malvern,Pennsylvania 19355, attention: Investor Relations (telephone (610) 280-7100). INVESTORS SHOULD READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION CONCERNING THE TRANSACTION.

Mid Penn, First Priority and their respective directors, executive officers, and certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Mid Penn and First Priority shareholders in favor of the transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the Mid Penn and

First Priority shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction will be set forth in the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find information about Mid Penn’s executive officers and directors in its most recent proxy statement filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov). Information about First

Priority’s executive officers and directors is set forth in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC’s Internet site. You can also obtain free copies of these documents from Mid Penn or First Priority, as appropriate, using the contact information above.

This document is not an offer to sell shares of Mid Penn’s securities which may be issued in the proposed transaction. Such securities are offered only by means of the joint proxy statement/prospectus referred to above.

About Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc.

 Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: MPB), headquartered in Millersburg, Pa., has been serving the community since 1868. Mid Penn has 29 retail locations in the state of Pennsylvania. Its footprint includes Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette, Lancaster, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill and Westmoreland counties. The bank offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services to meet the banking needs of the communities it serves. To learn more about Mid Penn Bank, visit www.midpennbank.com.

About First Priority Financial Corp.

 First Priority Financial Corp. has total assets of approximately $610 million. Headquartered in Malvern, Pa., First Priority provides personal banking, business banking and wealth management services through its seven locations in Chester, Berks, Montgomery and Bucks counties. Additional information is available through the bank’s website at www.fpbk.com.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results and experience to differ from those projected include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability to obtain regulatory approvals and satisfy other closing conditions to the merger, including approval by shareholders of Mid Penn and First Priority; the timing of closing the merger; difficulties and delays in integrating the business or fully realizing cost savings and other benefits; ineffectiveness of the company’s business strategy due to changes in current or future market conditions; the effects of competition, and of changes in laws and regulations, including industry consolidation and development of competing financial products and services; interest rate movements; changes in credit quality; inability to achieve other merger-related synergies; difficulties in integrating distinct business operations, including information technology difficulties; volatilities in the securities markets; and deteriorating economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in Mid Penn Bancorp, Inc.’s and First Priority Financial Corp.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Juniata Valley Financial Corp. to acquire Liverpool Community Bank
Company Release –  December 29, 2017
MIFFLINTOWN, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)—Juniata Valley Financial Corp. (“Juniata”) (OTC Pink: JUVF), the bank holding company of The Juniata Valley Bank (“JVB”), and Liverpool Community Bank (“Liverpool”), have announced the execution of an agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which Juniata will acquire the remaining 60.8% of outstanding shares of common stock of Liverpool that Juniata does not currently own, in a stock and cash transaction.

Under the merger agreement, Liverpool will be merged into JVB and Liverpool shareholders may elect to receive, in exchange for each share of Liverpool common stock they own, either cash of $4,050 or 202.6286 shares of Juniata common stock, subject to election and allocation procedures designed to result in the aggregate cash merger consideration representing between 15% and 20% of the total merger consideration issued in the transaction. Further, in addition to dividends paid in the ordinary course of business prior to closing, and provided certain conditions are met, Liverpool expects to pay a special cash dividend of $32.26 per share immediately prior to the closing. The transaction is valued at approximately $12.6 million.

As of September 30, 2017, Juniata had consolidated assets of $599.6 million. Juniata’s wholly-owned banking subsidiary, JVB, is a Pennsylvania state-chartered bank headquartered in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, which operates 15 community bank offices in the counties of Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Huntingdon, McKean and Potter. Liverpool, also a Pennsylvania state-chartered bank, had assets of $46.4 million as of September 30, 2017 and operates one community bank office in Liverpool in Perry County. After the transaction is completed, the combined organization is projected to have over $650 million in assets and 16 banking locations.

Following the merger, the former office of Liverpool will operate as the Liverpool Community Banking Office of The Juniata Valley Bank.

The joint announcement was made today by Marcie A. Barber, President and CEO of Juniata, and Robert L. Holmes, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Liverpool.

Ms. Barber stated “We are pleased to welcome the employees of Liverpool Community Bank to the Juniata team. The combination of our two banks will allow us together to extend Juniata’s strong offering of banking and wealth management products and services to a broader customer group in the Perry County market.”

Mr. Holmes added “The combination of our two historic franchises will create more opportunities for our employees and provide increased value and liquidity to our shareholders. The banks share a culture of providing unparalleled customer service to our loyal community banking customers and I am excited to introduce our customers to Juniata’s broader range of financial products and services.”

The transaction is expected to be accretive to earnings. The merger is subject to customary closing conditions enumerated in the merger agreement, including receipt of regulatory approvals and the approval of Liverpool’s shareholders. It is anticipated that the transaction will close in the first half of 2018.

Sandler O’Neill + Partners, LP served as financial advisor and Barley Snyder LLP served as legal counsel to Juniata. The Kafafian Group, Inc. served as financial advisor and provided a fairness opinion on the transaction to Liverpool. Pillar+Aught served as legal counsel to Liverpool.

Additional information regarding the merger terms will be set forth in Juniata’s Current Report on Form 8-K regarding the transaction that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which should be reviewed in conjunction with this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement: Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, the ability to achieve anticipated merger related operational efficiencies, the ability to enhance revenues through increased market penetration, expanded lending capacity and product offerings and other risks detailed from time to time in Juniata’s SEC  filings, including Forms 10-Q and 10-K (copies of which are available from Juniata without charge in hard copy or online at www.sec.gov). Juniata and Liverpool disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Liverpool and its officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Liverpool’s shareholders with respect to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

 Additional Information and Where to Find It:  It is expected that Juniata will file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the SEC in connection with the merger, which will include a Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be distributed to shareholders of Liverpool. Investors and security holders are urged to read the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus carefully when they are available. The Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will contain important information about Juniata, Liverpool, the merger, the persons soliciting proxies relating to the merger and their interests in the merger, and other related matters. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Free copies of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and these other documents may also be obtained from Juniata by directing a request to Danyelle Pannebaker at (717) 436-8211 or from Liverpool by directing a request to Jan Gibboney, Chief Executive Officer, at 104 North Front St., Liverpool, Pennsylvania 17045-0600, or by calling (717) 444-3714.

In addition to the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, Juniata files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information at the SEC public reference room in Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. Juniata’s filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and at the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

 

Pillar+Aught Principal Kevin Gold’s article “Key Aspects of Cybersecurity Awareness Training” appears in the November 2017 edition of the PA Association of Community Bankers’ Transactions Magazine.

PACB Transactions Magazine November 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 4, 2017 (Harrisburg, PA) – Pillar+Aught announced today that it will proudly support the 2017-18 Hershey Bears through a full season in-arena sponsorship. Beginning with the Bears’ home opener on October 14, Pillar+Aught will sponsor the fan-favorite “Power Play,” when at least one player is served a penalty and must report to the penalty box, giving the opposing team the advantage of having more players on the ice.

“Many of us are hockey fans, we root for the Bears, and we’re proud to support a team that’s important to the economy and vitality of the sports and culture of our region,” said Todd Shill, co-founder and partner at Pillar+Aught.

As part of its sports and entertainment law practice, Pillar+Aught represents professional athletes and coaches, including members of the Bears, as well as NFL players, television and film production companies, national recording artists, screenwriters, authors, and television and radio personalities.

Pillar+Aught co-founders launched the full service firm earlier this year with the goal of changing the traditional law firm experience with a team approach and unique pricing options for clients. The firm’s progressive approach has attracted clients not only in sports and entertainment, but in the rest of its personal and commercial practice areas as well.

“Pillar+Aught is, in many ways, just like a sports team.  Our 11 lawyers are extremely collaborative and recognize that it is about the team, not just individual lawyers who happen to practice law under one roof,” said Shill. “This is symbolic for us in many ways – we look forward to a great season with the Bears.”

For more information, visit www.pillaraught.com.

Media contact:

Amanda Martin Owens, amanda@agencybbm.com

 

 

Conflicting decisions on pipelines frustrate industry, landowners

 

August 2, 2017

“Pillar+Aught Grows with Two More Rhoads & Sinon Defectors,” by Lizzy McLellan.

Angela McGowan, left, and Steve Moniak, right.

Pillar + Aught, the Harrisburg firm that launched earlier this year vowing to embrace a startup sensibility, is growing in more ways than one, bringing on two new lawyers and expanding its office space.

The firm recently added two more lawyers from its founding partners’ former firm. Angela McGowan, who started at Pillar + Aught last week, will lead its real estate practice. Commercial litigator Steve Moniak also joined the firm in April, adding to its financial institutions practice.

Both had been partners at Rhoads & Sinon, which was home to Pillar + Aught’s nine founding partners before they left in February to start their new venture. McGowan and Moniak are classified as of counsel at their new firm, but co-founding partner Todd Shill explained that the lawyer titles mainly only designate who owns equity in the firm. Any of the firm’s lawyers can make an equity investment and become a principal if they see that as mutually beneficial, he said.

“When we designed this, we wanted to break a lot of the traditional model,” Shill said.

 Part of that has included creating a collaborative, open work space within its office. Thanks to that set-up, along with a greater reliance on technology instead of paper, the firm was able to spend less on its office space. The partners’ existing clients followed them to the new firm, Shill said, and they have been able to attract more business since opening because of their lower overhead.

“Lawyers are struggling with that rate pressure, that overhead pressure. When you relieve it, it’s amazing what you can do,” Shill said.

So it may come as a surprise that Pillar + Aught has just added 4,000 square feet to its office. But that space will largely be used as a facility for client training, which clients can also use for events. The cost is nominal per lawyer, Shill said, and saves the firm money it might spend to rent hotel space for training events.

McGowan said she is impressed with the firm’s progress in six months, and its ability to attract and retain clients. She was out on maternity leave when her former partners left Rhoads & Sinon, so she waited until recently to join them. She said her clients have reacted positively to her plans.

“I’m very attracted to the new approach to the practice of law, being a lot more collaborative and a lot more of a team approach,” McGowan said. “This is where the business world is going.”

The firm now has 11 lawyers. Shill said he thinks its model is sustainable as the firm grows, as long as it does so responsibly and continues to leverage technology.

Lizzy McLellan writes about the Pennsylvania legal community and the business of law at firms of all sizes. Contact her at lmclellan@alm.com. On Twitter: @LizzyMcLellTLI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PILLAR+AUGHT ADDS REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY & COMMERCIAL LITIGATOR TO GROWING HARRISBURG OFFICE

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (July 28, 2017) — Progressive law firm Pillar+Aught today announced the addition of two seasoned attorneys, along with the rapid physical expansion of its Harrisburg office.  Angela McGowan joined the firm today and will lead Pillar+Aught’s real estate practice. She and fellow newcomer, Steve Moniak, a commercial litigation specialist, will both also contribute to Pillar+Aught’s burgeoning financial institutions practice.

Angela will focus on representing business clients in the negotiation and execution of real estate transactions, bringing with her over a decade of experience in the purchasing, development and leasing of real estate. She also has significant experience in the oil and gas industry, having represented owners, operators, and landowners in the negotiation of pipeline easements, as well as leasing, acquisition, and zoning issues. A 2017 Central Penn Business Journal “40 Under 40” winner and a 2016 “Women of Influence” winner, Angela has been consistently recognized for her leadership within the legal profession and the community.

Steve joins Pillar+Aught bringing two decades of experience litigating a wide variety of cases related to business litigation, employment and labor, intellectual property and technology, appellate, and insurance law. He has also served as local counsel and special counsel. His litigation expertise has been instrumental in resolving significant cases— ranging from commercial breach of contract cases to complex multi-million dollar corporate disputes to claims brought by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Both attorneys fully embrace the progressive approach for which Pillar+Aught has quickly become known. The full service law firm launched this past February with the goal of changing the traditional law firm experience with a team approach and unique pricing options for clients.

“Angela and Steve are a perfect fit for our team,” said Todd Shill, co-founder and principal at Pillar+Aught. “We’ve been humbled and energized by the support of our clients since starting the firm. We’re enjoying consistent growth by continuing to provide our clients with unrivaled expertise in our practice areas, cutting edge technology, and ultra responsive service. Angela and Steve enable us to offer even more depth and greater expertise, particularly to our business clients.”

To support its expansion, the firm leased an additional 4,000 square feet to provide office space for the new attorneys, additional support staff, and new training facility for its clients — all of which is being designed within Pillar+Aught’s industry-leading collaborative workspace model. “Our team is fortunate to have a lot of exciting work for a lot of great clients,” Shill said.

Pillar+Aught is located on East Park Circle off of Union Deposit Road in Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.pillaraught.com.

CONTACT: TODD SHILL  717.480.9479