PRELIMINARY — DATED OCTOBER 1, 2021 — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
MERGER PROPOSED — YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
To the Shareholders of Old Second Bancorp, Inc. and West Suburban Bancorp, Inc.:
On July 25, 2021, Old Second Bancorp, Inc., which we refer to as “Old Second,” and West Suburban Bancorp, Inc., which we refer to as “West Suburban,” entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, which we refer to as the “merger agreement.” Under the merger agreement, West Suburban will merge with and into Old Second, with Old Second as the surviving corporation, in a transaction that we refer to as the “merger.” Immediately following the merger, West Suburban’s wholly-owned subsidiary, West Suburban Bank, an Illinois-chartered banking corporation, will merge with and into Old Second’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Old Second National Bank, a national banking association, with Old Second National Bank as the surviving bank.
If the merger is completed, each outstanding share of West Suburban common stock (except for treasury stock or shares owned by Old Second and West Suburban, in each case, other than shares held on behalf of third parties or as a result of debts previously contracted, and shares held by West Suburban shareholders who properly exercise dissenters’ rights) will be converted into the right to receive 42.413 shares of Old Second common stock and $271.15 in cash, without interest, which together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares, we refer to as the “merger consideration.”
The value of the consideration to be received by West Suburban shareholders will fluctuate with changes in the price of the shares of Old Second common stock. We urge you to obtain current market quotations for shares of Old Second common stock and West Suburban common stock. Old Second common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, or “NASDAQ,” under the symbol “OSBC.” West Suburban common stock is quoted on the OTC Pink Open Market, or the “OTC Pink Market,” under the symbol “WNRP.” Based on the closing price of Old Second common stock on July 23, 2021, the last trading day before public announcement of the merger, of $11.76 per share, the merger consideration represented approximately $769.93 in value for each share of West Suburban common stock. Based on the closing price of Old Second common stock on [ ], 2021, the last practicable trading date before the date of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, of $[ ] per share, the merger consideration represented approximately $[ ] in value for each share of West Suburban common stock. We urge you to obtain current market quotations for both Old Second common stock and West Suburban common stock.
Based on the number of outstanding shares of Old Second common stock and West Suburban common stock as of [ ], 2021, and based on the exchange ratio of 42.413, it is expected that Old Second shareholders will hold approximately [ ]% and West Suburban shareholders will hold approximately [ ]% of the issued and outstanding shares of Old Second common stock immediately following the closing of the merger.
In connection with the merger, Old Second shareholders are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of the shareholders of Old Second, which we refer to as the “Old Second special meeting,” to be held virtually on [ ], 2021, at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/OSBC2021SM, at [ ], Central Time, and West Suburban shareholders are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of West Suburban shareholders, which we refer to as the “West Suburban special meeting,” to be held on [ ], 2021, at 711 South Meyers Road, Lombard, Illinois 60148, at [ ], Central Time.
At the Old Second special meeting, Old Second shareholders will be asked to vote on (i) a proposal to adopt the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the issuance of shares of Old Second common stock in the merger, which we refer to as the “Old Second merger proposal” and (ii) a proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation of proxies in favor of the Old Second merger proposal, which we refer to as the “Old Second adjournment proposal.”
After careful consideration, the Old Second board of directors has unanimously determined that the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the issuance of shares of Old Second common stock in the merger, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Old Second and its shareholders and unanimously recommends that Old Second shareholders vote “FOR” the Old Second merger proposal and “FOR” the Old Second adjournment proposal.
At the West Suburban special meeting, West Suburban shareholders will be asked to vote on (i) a proposal to approve and adopt the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, which we refer to as the “West Suburban merger proposal” and (ii) a proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to permit further solicitation of proxies in favor of the West Suburban merger proposal, which we refer to as the “West Suburban adjournment proposal.”
After careful consideration, the West Suburban board of directors has unanimously determined that the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of West Suburban and its shareholders and unanimously recommends that West Suburban shareholders vote “FOR” the West Suburban merger proposal and “FOR” the West Suburban adjournment proposal.
This document, which serves as a proxy statement for the Old Second and West Suburban special meetings and as a prospectus for the shares of Old Second common stock to be issued to West Suburban shareholders in the merger, describes each company’s special meeting, the merger, the documents related to the merger and other related matters. You are encouraged to read this joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully. In particular, you should read the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 26 for a discussion of the risks you should consider in evaluating the proposed merger and how it will affect you. You can also obtain information about Old Second from documents that it has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated into this joint proxy statement/prospectus by reference. Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of shares you own. Whether or not you expect to attend your company’s special meeting, the details of which are described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus, please promptly submit your proxy by telephone, by the Internet or by completing, signing, dating and returning your signed proxy card(s) in the enclosed prepaid return envelope so that your shares may be represented at the applicable special meeting.
If Old Second shareholders have any questions or require assistance in voting their shares of Old Second common stock, they should call Old Second’s Shareholder Relations Manager, Shirley Cantrell, at (630) 906-2303. If West Suburban shareholders have any questions or require assistance in voting their shares of West Suburban common stock, they should call Georgeson LLC, West Suburban’s proxy solicitor for its special meeting, toll-free at [•].
Sincerely,
| James L. Eccher | | | Kevin J. Acker | |
| Chief Executive Officer and President Old Second Bancorp, Inc. | | | Chairman of the Board West Suburban Bancorp, Inc. | |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the merger, the issuance of shares of Old Second common stock in connection with the merger or the other transactions described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The securities to be issued in connection with the merger are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank or savings association and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated [ ], 2021, and is first being mailed to Old Second shareholders and West Suburban shareholders on or about [ ], 2021.