Pa. Company Adding Bank to Its Fla. Holdings

F.N.B. Corp., Hermitage, Pa., is swiftly expanding in the Sunshine State.

The $3 billion-asset banking company said it has signed a definitive agreement to buy Guaranty Bank and Trust Co., Venice, Fla., for $34.3 million of stock.

For F.N.B., the agreement is the fifth announced in the past 18 months for a Florida acquisition. The other deals were for First National Bank of Naples, Cape Coral National Bank, First National Bank of Fort Myers, and First National Bank of Florida.

Under terms of the latest agreement, F.N.B. would pay $43 for each outstanding Guaranty share, or 3.35 times diluted book value. The pooling- of-interests transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. It is expected to close in January.

Guaranty, which has assets of $144 million and operates five branches in Sarasota County, is to be combined with an F.N.B. subsidiary, West Coast Bank. The combined institutions would be named West Coast Guaranty Bank.

"F.N.B. believes Sarasota County offers an excellent opportunity for future growth and expansion," said chairman and chief executive officer Peter Mortensen.

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