EXHIBIT 99.2
| [DATE], 1999 |
[Merchants Bancorp, Inc. Logo] |
Dear Fellow Stockholder:
It is my pleasure to invite you to attend a special meeting of stockholders of Merchants Bancorp,
Inc. to be held at ___________________, located at _____________, Aurora, Illinois on
______________, 1999 at ____ a.m., local time.
The purpose of this meeting is to consider and vote upon the Agreement and Plan of Merger
dated as of July 29, 1999 between Merchants, Old Kent Financial Corporation and Merchants
Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Old Kent (the "Merger Agreement"). If the
merger is consummated, then each share of Merchants common stock would be exchanged for 0.83
shares of Old Kent common stock, plus cash in lieu of fractional shares.
The enclosed Prospectus and Proxy Statement explains in detail the terms of the Merger
Agreement and merger, as well as other information relating to Merchants and Old Kent. Please
carefully review and consider all of this information.
After careful consideration, the Merchants board of directors unanimously determined the
merger to be advisable and in the best interests of the Merchants' stockholders and unanimously
recommends that you vote FOR adoption of the Merger Agreement.
Your participation in the special meeting, in person or by proxy, is especially important.
An abstention or failure to vote at the special meeting or to submit a proxy will have the same
effect as a vote "against" the adoption of the Merger Agreement. If you do submit a proxy and
do not include instructions on how to vote your proxy, your shares will be voted "for" the
adoption of the Merger Agreement. Please sign, date, and mail the enclosed proxy promptly in
the postage-paid envelope that has been provided for your convenience. If you attend the special
meeting, you may vote in person, if you wish, even if you have previously returned your proxy
card.
| |
Sincerely yours,
Calvin R. Myers
President and Chief Executive Officer |
