First Financial Northwest Inc (FFNW) Quote

First Financial Northwest, Inc. Announces Receipt of Shareholder Approval for Transaction with Global Credit Union (7/19/24)

RENTON, Wash., July 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Financial Northwest, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ GS: FFNW), the holding company for First Financial Northwest Bank (the “Bank”), today announced that the preliminary vote count indicates that its shareholders approved the Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated January 10, 2024, by and among the Company, the Bank and Global Federal Credit Union (“Global”), which provides for Global’s acquisition of substantially all of the assets and assumption of substantially all of the liabilities (including deposit liabilities) of the Bank (the “asset sale”). Based on the preliminary vote counts, shareholders also approved a proposal to voluntarily dissolve the Company and distribute its net assets following the completion of the asset sale and approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation that may be paid or may become payable to certain executive officers of the Company in connection with the asset sale. Final voting results of the special meeting of shareholders held on July 19, 2024, will be filed by the Company on a Form 8-K within four business days.

The Bank previously received required regulatory approvals from the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions in connection with the asset sale and Bank liquidation, but consummation of the asset sale remains subject to the required regulatory approvals from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”), which have not yet been obtained. The Company cannot provide any assurance as to whether they will obtain the required final regulatory approvals from the FDIC and the NCUA, when such approvals will be received, or whether there will be conditions in such approvals that are unacceptably burdensome to the Company or Global.

First Financial Northwest, Inc. is the parent company of First Financial Northwest Bank; an FDIC insured Washington State-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Renton, Washington, serving the Puget Sound Region through 15 full-service banking offices. For additional information about us, please visit our website at ffnwb.com and click on the “Investor Relations” link at the bottom of the page.

For more information, contact:
Joseph W. Kiley III, President and Chief Executive Officer
Rich Jacobson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(425) 255-4400

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/07/19/2916022/0/en/First-Financial-Northwest-Inc-Announces-Receipt-of-Shareholder-Approval-for-Transaction-with-Global-Credit-Union.html

FFNW shareholders will receive between $23.18 to $23.75 per share upon liquidation.

Global Credit Union and First Financial Northwest, Inc. Announce Agreement for Global Credit Union to Acquire First Financial Northwest Bank (1/11/24)

Global Federal Credit Union (“Global”) and First Financial Northwest, Inc. (“First Financial Northwest”) (NASDAQ GS: FFNW) announced today they have entered into a definitive agreement in which Global will acquire Renton, Washington-based First Financial Northwest Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Financial Northwest. The transaction is structured as a purchase and assumption agreement with Global purchasing substantially all assets and assuming substantially all liabilities of First Financial Northwest Bank for the all-cash consideration of $231.2 million, subject to certain adjustments.

The agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both institutions. Following the purchase and assumption transaction, First Financial Northwest and First Financial Northwest Bank intend to wind down and dissolve. Based on First Financial Northwest’s outstanding shares on a fully-diluted basis as of December 31, 2023, and after taking into consideration the anticipated satisfaction of certain obligations of First Financial Northwest and First Financial Northwest Bank excluded from the purchase and assumption transaction, including holding company indebtedness and tax liabilities, First Financial Northwest expects that its shareholders would be entitled to receive approximately $23.18 to $23.75 per share upon liquidation, subject to certain adjustments. If certain conditions occur prior to closing, including but not necessarily limited to a decline in deposits, an inability to refinance or sell certain loans prior to closing, and other potential reductions outlined in the Purchase and Assumption Agreement, the actual amount received could be below this range.

The transaction will expand Global’s business and commercial services to all its member businesses as well as enhance its branch presence in Western Washington, where it first began operations 40 years ago. First Financial Northwest Bank customers will become members of Global Federal Credit Union with full access to Global’s extensive product and service offerings.

“We are enthusiastic about combining two financially sound institutions that share a strong commitment to service and community engagement,” said Geoff Lundfelt, President and CEO of Global Federal Credit Union. “This combination will continue to enhance service delivery and growth in a market that the credit union has been operating in for over four decades, adding numerous branches. First Financial Northwest Bank’s branch network has a technology-forward design, accelerating the transformation to an environment with a structure and atmosphere more suited to conducting business in the future.”

“The ability to offer expanded business and commercial financial products and services to Global’s existing membership is a significant strategic step for the credit union,” continued Lundfelt. “This acquisition also affords the customers of First Financial Northwest Bank access to the consumer products and world-class service Global members currently enjoy.”

Lundfelt concluded, “Global will receive tremendous value from this transaction. The projected future earnings from the acquisition of First Financial Northwest Bank’s franchise justify the pricing of the transaction and are expected to be accretive to Global from a financial perspective.”

Joseph W. Kiley III, President and CEO of First Financial Northwest Bank added, “First Financial Northwest Bank has earned the trust of its customers and the communities it serves for over a century by holding true to its values of building long-term banking relationships, offering high-quality banking products and services, providing exceptional customer service, and demonstrating a strong commitment to community. In today’s competitive environment, we believe this strategic transaction provides numerous benefits for our customers, our communities, and our employees. In addition, this transaction delivers substantial value to our shareholders who have supported us over the years.”

The transaction is anticipated to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024 subject to receiving all regulatory approvals, approval by the shareholders of First Financial Northwest, and other customary closing conditions. Until the transaction is finalized, both organizations will continue to conduct business as usual.

Global was advised by McQueen Financial Advisors, as financial advisor, and Honigman LLP, as legal counsel. First Financial Northwest was advised by Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, as financial advisor, and Fenimore Kay Harrison LLP, as legal counsel.

Global was founded in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1948 and currently has approximately 2,000 employees, operations in five states and Italy, and 750,000 members spread across all 50 states and 20 foreign countries. With over $11 billion in assets, Global is one of the 20 largest credit unions in the United States. Global first began operations in Washington state after a series of mergers in Oak Harbor and the Greater Seattle area beginning in 1983. Global has 27 branches and serves over 180,000 members across Washington state.

Established in 1923 in Renton, Washington as the Renton Savings and Loan Association, First Financial Northwest Bank has transformed over the years from a single branch thrift to a full-service community-based commercial bank with over 150 employees delivering unique and innovative solutions to its customers in the Puget Sound Region. At September 30, 2023, First Financial Northwest had total assets of $1.53 billion and deposits of $1.21 billion.

More about Global Credit Union

Global Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative with a mission of enriching lives through world-class financial services. Global, a low-income designated credit union, was founded in 1948 at the Alaska Air Depot, and now serves more than 750,000 members online and in 77 branches across Washington, Alaska, Idaho, California, Arizona, as well as branches on three U.S. military installations in Italy. Learn more at globalcu.org.

More about First Financial Northwest, Inc.
First Financial Northwest, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: FFNW) is the parent company of First Financial Northwest Bank; an FDIC insured Washington State-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Renton, Washington, serving the Puget Sound Region through 15 full-service banking offices. Learn more at ffnwb.com.

Come oooon FFNW, you can do it!, I know you can!

Cool, maybe Tuesday?

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