EXHIBIT 99.1
Wintrust Financial
Corporation
727 North Bank Lane, Lake Forest,
Illinois 60045
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2004
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Edward J. Wehmer, President/CEO - Wintrust Financial Corporation, (847) 615-4096
David A. Dykstra, COO - Wintrust Financial Corporation, (847) 615-4096
Blair K. Robinson, President - Northview Financial Corporation, (847) 446-0245
Wintrust Website address: www.wintrust.com
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES PLANS TO ACQUIRE NORTHVIEW FINANCIAL
CORPORATION
LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - Wintrust Financial Corporation ("Wintrust")
(Nasdaq: WTFC) today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire
Northview Financial Corporation ("Northview"). Northview is the parent company
of Northview Bank and Trust ("Northview Bank") that has locations in Northfield,
Mundelein and Wheaton, Illinois and Northview Mortgage, LLC. Northview Bank
began operations as a de novo bank in 1993 and had total assets of approximately
$338 million as of March 31, 2004.
"This transaction is a great fit for both companies," stated Edward J.
Wehmer, President and CEO of Wintrust. "Similar to Wintrust's origin, Northview
Bank began as a de novo bank and shares our commitment to community banking and
customer service. The merger will help fulfill Wintrust's plans to continue
expansion into desirable suburban Chicago metropolitan communities. The
communities that Northview Bank serves are complementary to markets we currently
serve. Northview Bank has a terrific operating culture, solid growth and profit
potential, and a dedicated board of directors and management team." He added:
"We look forward to providing Northview Bank and their customers with enhanced
lending capacity and wealth management products through our Wayne Hummer
Companies."
"We are excited about the opportunity to combine resources with
Wintrust," said Blair K. Robinson, Northview's President and CEO. "We have
continually sought opportunities to increase shareholder value and to enhance
our product offerings. It now makes sense in our progression to partner with a
financial organization that is similarly-minded in their philosophy of offering
highly
-1-
personalized customer-oriented retail and commercial banking services with
financial capabilities to support further expansion." Mr. Robinson emphasized
that by joining forces with Wintrust, Northview Bank's customers will not only
retain very high levels of customer service but will also gain access to a wider
range of products and services through the strength Wintrust can offer. "We
clearly see benefits for our customers, shareholders and employees and we look
forward to joining the Wintrust family," he said.
TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION
In the merger, each share of Northview common stock outstanding will
converted into the right to receive cash and shares of Wintrust's common stock
based on Wintrust's average trading price at closing determined in accordance
with the merger agreement. The aggregate per share purchase price is
approximately $275. At March 31, 2004, Northview had outstanding 165,880 shares
of common stock and in-the-money options to acquire approximately 10,850 shares
of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $75 to $115 per share.
Consummation of the transaction is not expected to have a material impact on
Wintrust's 2004 earnings per share.
The transaction is subject to approval by banking regulators and
Northview's shareholders and certain closing conditions. The transaction is
expected to close late in the third quarter of 2004 and is not expected to have
a material effect on Wintrust's 2004 earnings per share.
ABOUT WINTRUST
Wintrust is a $5.0 billion asset financial holding company whose common
stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market(R) (Nasdaq: WTFC). Its ten suburban
Chicago community bank subsidiaries, each of which was founded as a de novo bank
since December 1991, are located primarily in high income retail markets -- Lake
Forest Bank & Trust Company, Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company, North Shore
Community Bank & Trust Company in Wilmette, Libertyville Bank & Trust Company,
Barrington Bank & Trust Company, Crystal Lake Bank & Trust Company, Northbrook
Bank & Trust Company, Advantage National Bank in Elk Grove Village, Village Bank
& Trust in Arlington Heights and Beverly Bank & Trust Company in Chicago. The
banks also operate facilities in Cary, Chicago, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove,
Glencoe, Gurnee, Highland Park, Highwood, Hoffman Estates, Lake Bluff, McHenry,
Prospect Heights, Riverside, Roselle, Skokie, Wauconda, Western Springs and
Winnetka, Illinois. Additionally, the Company operates various non-bank
subsidiaries. First Insurance Funding Corporation, one of the largest commercial
insurance premium finance companies operating in the United States, serves
-2-
commercial loan customers throughout the country. Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee
provides high-yielding, short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added
out-sourced administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls,
billing and cash management services, to temporary staffing service clients
located throughout the United States. Wayne Hummer Investments, LLC is a
broker-dealer providing a full range of private client and brokerage services to
clients located primarily in the Midwest. Focused Investments LLC is a
broker-dealer that provides a full range of investment solutions to clients
through a network of community-based financial institutions throughout the
Midwest. Wayne Hummer Asset Management Company provides money management
services and advisory services to individual accounts as well as the Wayne
Hummer Companies' three proprietary mutual funds. Wayne Hummer Trust Company, a
trust subsidiary, allows Wintrust to service customers' trust and investment
needs at Wayne Hummer, as well as, many banking locations. Wintrust Information
Technology Services Company provides information technology support, item
capture and statement preparation services to the Wintrust subsidiaries.
Currently, Wintrust operates a total of 40 banking offices and is in
the process of constructing several additional branch facilities. All of the
Company's banking subsidiaries are locally managed with large local boards of
directors. Wintrust also has announced pending acquisitions of SGB Corporation
d/b/a WestAmerica Mortgage Company and its affiliate Guardian Real Estate
Services, Inc.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to the
proposed acquisition of Northview Financial Corporation and integration of
Northview Financial Corporation with Wintrust, the combination of their
businesses and projected revenue, as well as profitability and earnings outlook.
Actual results could differ materially from those addressed in the
forward-looking statements due to factors such as changes in economic
conditions, unanticipated changes in interest rates that negatively impact
growth, competition and the related origination of loan products, unforeseen
delays in completing the transaction, slower than anticipated development and
growth of Northview Financial Corporation's business or unanticipated business
declines, unforeseen difficulties in integrating the acquisition or higher than
expected operational costs,
-3-
unforeseen changes in the banking industry, difficulties in adapting
successfully to technological changes as needed to compete effectively in the
marketplace, and the ability to attract and retain experienced key management.
Therefore, there can be no assurances that future actual results will correspond
to these forward-looking statements.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Wintrust will be filing a registration statement with the Securities
and Exchange Commission in connection with the proposed transaction. The
registration statement will include a proxy statement/prospectus that will be
sent to the shareholders of Northview Financial Corporation seeking their
approval of the proposed transaction.
Shareholders of Northview are advised to read the important information
concerning the proposed transaction contained in the proxy statement/prospectus
and other documents filed by Wintrust with the Securities and Exchange
Commission when they become available. When filed, these documents can be
obtained free of charge from the web site maintained by the Securities and
Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. or upon written request to Wintrust
Financial Corporation, Attn: Investor Relations, 727 North Bank Lane, Lake
Forest, Illinois 60045 or by calling (847) 615-4096, or upon written request to
Northview Financial Corporation, Attn: President, 245 Waukegan Road, Northfield,
Illinois 60093 or by calling (847) 446-0245.
# # #
-4-