Attached files

file filename
8-K - FORM 8-K 08-03-10 WSFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION - WSFS FINANCIAL CORPf8k_080310-0312.htm
EX-1.1 - EXHIBIT 1.1 - UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT - WSFS FINANCIAL CORPex1-1.htm
EX-99.1 - EXHIBIT 99.1 - PRESS RELEASE - WSFS FINANCIAL CORPex99-1.htm


 

Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
1227 25th Street N.W.
Suite 200 West
Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 434-4660
Facsimile: (202) 434-4661
 
 
1900 South Atherton Street
Suite 101
State College, PA  16801
(814) 272-3502
Facsimile: (814) 272-3514
 


August 2, 2010

Board of Directors
WSFS Financial Corporation
WSFS Bank Center
500 Delaware Avenue
Wilmington, DE 19801


Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to WSFS Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offering of shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), by the Company pursuant to that certain  underwriting Agreement, dated August 2, 2010, by and among the Company, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB (the “Bank”), and Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P., as the representative of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the “Underwriters”).

The Underwriting Agreement provides for the purchase by the Underwriters of: (a) 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued and sold by the Company (the “Firm Shares”); and (b) at the option of the Underwriters, up to 170,000 additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to an over-allotment option (the “Optional Shares” and, collectively with the Firm Shares, the “Shares”).  The Shares are to be offered and sold by the Company pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated August 2, 2010 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), and the accompanying base prospectus dated July 23, 2010 (the “Base Prospectus” and, collectively with the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”) that form part of the Company’s effective registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-167404) (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).  We have been requested by the Company to render this opinion in connection with the offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and Registration Statement.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth.  In all such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original documents and the conformity to such original documents of all copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies, and as to certificates of public officials, we have assumed the same to have been properly given and to be accurate.  We have further assumed

 
 
 

 
 
MALIZIA SPIDI & FISCH, PC
 
Board of Directors
WSFS Financial Corp.
August 2, 2010
Page  2
 
the legal capacities of all natural persons.  As to matters of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon statements and representations of representatives of the Company and public officials.

 
The law covered by the opinion expressed herein is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, upon the issuance and delivery of, and payment for, the Shares in the manner contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Our opinion is rendered as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you of changes in law or fact (or the effect thereof on the opinions expressed herein) that hereafter may come to our attention.  This opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement by means of its incorporation by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed with the Commission and to the use of our name therein and in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.”  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC

 
MALIZIA SPIDI & FISCH, PC