Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-92075
PROSPECTUS
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
352,942 Shares of Common Stock
Certain shareholders of Wintrust Financial Corporation are offering for
sale from time to time up to 352,942 shares of our common stock under this
prospectus. The selling shareholders may offer the shares:
o to or through one or more underwriters,
o directly to purchasers,
o on the Nasdaq National Market in typical brokerage transactions,
o in negotiated transactions, or otherwise.
The selling shareholders may sell the shares of common stock covered by this
prospectus:
o at market prices prevailing at the time of sale,
o at prices related to the then-prevailing market price, or
o at negotiated prices.
Wintrust will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of
common stock by the selling shareholders. No minimum purchase is required and no
arrangement has been made to have funds received by the selling shareholders
and/or any registered representatives placed in an escrow, trust or similar
account or arrangement.
Wintrust's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "WTFC." On November 29, 1999, the closing price for the common stock as
reported on Nasdaq was $16.625 per share.
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN "RISK
FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK THAT ARE BEING OFFERED ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
OR DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE BANK
INSURANCE FUND OR THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY GOVERNMENTAL
AGENCY.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED THAT
THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is December 16, 1999
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS..........................................................2
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION - SUMMARY INFORMATION...........................3
RISK FACTORS...................................................................6
USE OF PROCEEDS...............................................................10
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS..........................................................10
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION..........................................................10
TRANSFER AGENT................................................................12
LEGAL MATTERS.................................................................12
EXPERTS.......................................................................12
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION...........................................13
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission; it provides you with a general description
of the securities offered. You should read this prospectus together with
additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More
Information."
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WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Wintrust Financial Corporation, an Illinois corporation, is a financial
services holding company headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, with total
assets of approximately $1.6 billion at September 30, 1999. Wintrust engages in
community banking and specialty finance businesses through its operating
subsidiaries: Lake Forest Bank and Trust Company; Hinsdale Bank and Trust
Company; North Shore Community Bank and Trust Company; Libertyville Bank and
Trust Company; Barrington Bank and Trust Company, N.A.; Crystal Lake Bank and
Trust Company, N.A.; First Insurance Funding Corporation (formerly First Premium
Services, Inc.), a commercial insurance premium finance company; Wintrust Asset
Management Company, N.A., a trust company subsidiary; and recently acquired
Tricom, Inc., which provides financial and administrative services to the
temporary staffing industry. In September 1996, each of the banking subsidiaries
then existing and First Insurance Funding, which were previously affiliated but
separately owned, became subsidiaries of Wintrust as a result of a transaction
which combined their respective holding companies under one parent company.
Today, Wintrust provides community-oriented, personal and commercial
banking services primarily to individuals and small to mid-size businesses
through 24 banking facilities. The table below provides information regarding
each of our banks and their respective markets.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL ASSETS CHICAGO-AREA
AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 COMMUNITIES NUMBER
BANK DATE OPENED (IN THOUSANDS) SERVED OF FACILITIES
- --------------------- ------------- --------------------- ------------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Lake Forest December 1991 $484,987 Lake Forest 5
Lake Bluff 1
Hinsdale October 1993 324,801 Hinsdale 2
Clarendon Hills(1) 1
Western Springs(2) 1
Burr Ridge --
North Shore Community September 1994 338,313 Wilmette 3
Kenilworth --
Glencoe 2
Winnetka 1
Skokie 1
Libertyville October 1995 215,519 Libertyville 3
Mundelein --
Vernon Hills --
Barrington December 1996 159,977 Barrington 1
Barrington Hills --
Lake Barrington --
North Barrington --
South Barrington --
Inverness --
Crystal Lake December 1997 83,402 Crystal Lake 3
Cary --
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Operates in this community as Clarendon Hills Bank, a branch of Hinsdale
Bank.
(2) Operates in this community as Community Bank of Western Springs, a branch
of Hinsdale Bank.
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Each of Wintrust's banking subsidiaries was founded as a de novo banking
organization (i.e., started new) within the last eight years. The organizational
efforts began in 1991, when a group of experienced bankers and local business
people identified an unfilled niche in the Chicago metropolitan area community
banking market. As large banks acquired smaller ones and personal service was
subjected to consolidation strategies, opportunities arose in affluent suburbs
for locally owned and operated banks emphasizing personal service. In pursuit of
this strategic opportunity, the group founded Lake Forest Bank in December 1991
to service the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities. Thereafter, as desirable
locations were procured in other attractive communities where management
successfully recruited locally known, experienced bank officers, our other banks
were organized with the participation of local residents and business leaders of
those communities.
Through First Insurance Funding, Wintrust originates commercial insurance
premium finance loans on a national basis. Currently, the majority of these
loans are being purchased by our banks in order to fulfill the lending capacity
of the Banks. The loans originated by First Insurance Funding provide our banks
with attractive yielding assets as a supplement to their lending activities.
First Insurance Funding, which commenced operations approximately nine years
ago, is headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois. Based on limited industry data
available and First Insurance Funding management's experience in the industry,
management estimates that First Insurance Funding is one of the largest premium
finance companies operating in the United States. First Insurance Funding's loan
volume exceeded $600 million for the 12 months ended September 30, 1999. These
loans are originated by First Insurance Funding, working with medium and large
insurance agents and brokers throughout the United States. Insurance premiums
are financed primarily for commercial customers' purchases of liability,
property and casualty and other commercial insurance.
Wintrust conducts trust operations through Wintrust Asset Management, a
separate subsidiary created on September 30, 1998, to expand Wintrust's trust
services in the communities served by our banks. Wintrust has experienced trust
personnel and offers trust services at Lake Forest Bank, North Shore Community
Bank, Hinsdale Bank, and Barrington Bank. Wintrust plans to offer on-site trust
services through Wintrust Asset Management at each of our remaining banks within
the next few years.
The historical financial performance of Wintrust has been affected by the
high costs associated with growing market share in deposits and loans, opening
new banking facilities and building an experienced management team. Wintrust's
financial performance over the past five years reflects the improving financial
performance of our banks as they mature, adjusted for the significant costs of
opening new banks and branch offices. Wintrust's experience has been that it
generally takes from 13 to 24 months for new banking facilities to first achieve
operational profitability. Similarly, management currently expects a start-up
phase for Wintrust Asset Management of approximately two to three years before
the trust operations become profitable.
In order to minimize the time lags typically experienced by de novo banks
in redeploying deposits into assets that provide attractive yields, since its
formation Wintrust has focused on the development of specialized earning asset
niches. Because management believes that our banks, like many community banks,
are not likely over time to generate loans to local customers for more than
about half of their respective lending capacities, it is anticipated that
Wintrust will continue to pursue specialized asset niches to allow Wintrust to
generate large volumes of homogenous assets that can be retained for investment,
sold into the secondary market or securitized to generate fee income, or for
liquidity management purposes.
To date, Wintrust has identified and finances loans in several such asset
niches to enhance its loan-to-deposit ratio, including premium finance loans
originated by First Insurance Funding, indirect auto loans, mortgage warehouse
lending, medical and municipal funding, and, more recently,
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homeowners and condominium association lending. On October 26, 1999, we added a
new earning asset and fee-based business niche through our acquisition of
Tricom, Inc., a financial and administrative service bureau to the temporary
staffing industry. Tricom, which is being operated as a subsidiary of Hinsdale
Bank, provides short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added,
out-sourced administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls,
billing and cash management services. Tricom's clients, located throughout the
United States, provide staffing services to businesses in diversified
industries. Based on third quarter 1999 volume, Tricom currently processes
payrolls with associated billings in excess of $200 million on an annualized
basis.
While committed to a continuing growth strategy, management's current focus
is to balance further asset growth with earnings growth. To this end, Wintrust
is seeking to more fully leverage the existing capacity of its operating
subsidiaries to support internal growth. Additionally, Wintrust is continuing to
pursue specialized earning-asset niches to shift the mix of earning assets to
higher-yielding loans. Wintrust is also focusing on controlling deposit funding
costs as the maturing Banks develop more established customer bases.
Wintrust's principal executive offices are located at 727 North Bank Lane,
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045, and its telephone number is (847) 615-4096.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. You can identify these statements from our use of the words "estimate,"
"project," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect" and similar expressions.
These forward-looking statements may include, among other things:
o statements related to anticipated improvements in financial
performance and management's long term performance goals,
o statements relating to Wintrust's business and growth strategies, and
o any other statements which are not historical facts.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual results,
performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. In addition, our past results of operations do not
necessarily indicate our future results. We discuss these and other
uncertainties in the "Risk Factors" section of this prospectus.
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RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves risks. The discussion below
describes the most significant risk factors related to the offering. You should
carefully consider these risks and uncertainties before deciding to invest in
our common stock. If any of these risks or uncertainties actually occur, our
business could be adversely affected. In that event, the trading price of our
common stock could decline and you could lose all or a part of your investment.
This prospectus and the information incorporated into it by reference also
contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our
actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-
looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those described
below and elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference in this
prospectus.
DE NOVO OPERATIONS AND BRANCH OPENINGS IMPACT OUR PROFITABILITY; OUR HISTORICAL
EARNINGS WERE ENHANCED THROUGH THE RECOGNITION OF PRIOR YEARS' TAX NET OPERATING
LOSSES.
Wintrust's historical results have been impacted by its strategy of de novo
bank formations and branch openings through which Wintrust has built an
infrastructure that management believes can support additional internal growth
in our banks' respective markets. To expand into additional communities in and
around Chicago, Wintrust may undertake additional de novo bank formations or
branch openings. Based on Wintrust's experience, management believes that it
generally takes from 13 to 24 months for new banking facilities to first achieve
operational profitability, due to the impact of organizational and overhead
expenses, the start-up phase of generating deposits and the time lag typically
involved in redeploying deposits into attractively priced loans and other higher
yielding earning assets. Wintrust's two newest subsidiaries, Crystal Lake Bank,
which opened in December 1997, and Wintrust Asset Management, which we formed on
September 30, 1998, are not yet operating profitably.
The level of reported net income, return on average equity and return on
average assets for Wintrust will in the near term continue to be impacted by
start-up costs associated with our de novo bank and branching operations and the
start-up of Wintrust Asset Management. To the extent Wintrust undertakes
additional branching and de novo bank and business formations, Wintrust is
likely to continue to experience the effects of higher operating expenses
relative to operating income from the new operations. This may limit increases
in profitability, although management currently intends to focus on balancing
future growth with earnings improvements and anticipates that future results of
operations will reflect greater leveraging of the investments Wintrust has made
to date in the infrastructures of the existing banks.
In addition, unlike prior periods, our reported net income in 1999 and
future periods will not benefit significantly from recognition of net operating
loss carryforwards. The value of prior NOL's recognized for financial statement
reporting purposes during 1998 was $3.4 million and in 1997 was $4.2 million.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT OUR ACQUISITION STRATEGY.
Although Wintrust has historically grown through de novo bank formations
and the establishment of new branch offices, Wintrust's strategic plan also
includes potential acquisition of other financial institutions in attractive
markets and potential acquisitions of specialty finance or commercial finance
businesses that offer unique earning asset niches. Growth through acquisition
may offer Wintrust the opportunity to increase market share in existing and new
markets without incurring the full earnings impact of start-up operations.
However, there can be no assurance that potential acquisitions will be available
on terms acceptable or favorable to Wintrust or that the required regulatory
approvals for any proposed acquisitions will be obtained. There also can be no
assurance that Wintrust will be able
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<PAGE>
to successfully integrate, operate and manage any business that it acquires so
as to maintain or increase profitability.
During October 1999, Wintrust completed a part cash, part stock acquisition
of 10-year old, Milwaukee-based Tricom, Inc., a financial and administrative
service bureau to the temporary staffing industry. The transaction is consistent
with our stated strategy of adding a variety of diversified earning asset and
fee-based business niches to augment our community-based banking revenues. While
we entered into employment agreements ranging from one to three years with four
senior officers of Tricom and expect the acquisition to be accretive to earnings
per share during the first full year of operations, Wintrust management has no
direct experience managing or financing this type of business, and we could
encounter unanticipated difficulties. Accordingly, there can be no assurance
that we will succeed in increasing our profitability as a result of the
acquisition.
WE DEPEND ON OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT.
Wintrust's success to date has been influenced strongly by its ability to
attract and to retain senior management experienced in banking and financial
services. Wintrust's ability to retain its executive officers and the current
management teams of each of our banks, First Insurance Funding and Wintrust
Asset Management, and, as Wintrust grows, to attract and retain qualified
additional senior and middle management, will continue to be important to
successful implementation of Wintrust's strategies. Wintrust does not currently
maintain key-man life insurance policies. The unexpected loss of services of any
key management personnel, or the inability to recruit and retain qualified
personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on Wintrust's business and
financial results.
Wintrust has entered into employment agreements with Edward J. Wehmer, who
has served as Wintrust's president since inception and, since May 1998, as chief
executive officer, and with its other senior management and the senior officers
of its subsidiaries. The agreements provide for, among other things, certain
non-competition agreements, severance arrangements and benefits.
OUR ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES MAY PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO ABSORB POTENTIAL
LOSSES IN OUR LOAN PORTFOLIO.
Wintrust's allowance for possible loan losses is established in
consultation with management of its operating subsidiaries and is maintained at
a level considered adequate by management to absorb loan losses that are
inherent in the portfolio. The amount of future losses is susceptible to changes
in economic, operating and other conditions, including changes in interest
rates, that may be beyond Wintrust's control, and such losses may exceed current
estimates. Rapidly growing and de novo bank loan portfolios are, by their
nature, unseasoned. As a result, estimating loan loss allowances for our banks
is more difficult, and therefore the banks may be more susceptible to changes in
estimates, and to losses exceeding estimates, than banks with more seasoned loan
portfolios. Although management believes that the allowance for possible loan
losses is adequate to absorb losses on any existing loans that may become
uncollectible, there can be no assurance that the allowance for possible loan
losses will prove sufficient to cover actual loan losses in the future.
A portion of Wintrust's assets are comprised of insurance premium finance
loans that Wintrust generates through First Insurance Funding. These loans,
intended to enhance the average yield of earning assets of the banks, may
involve a different level of risk of collection than generally associated with
loan portfolios of more traditional community banks.
7
<PAGE>
WE MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY INTEREST RATE CHANGES.
Our earnings are derived from the operations of our subsidiaries, and we
are principally dependent on net interest income, calculated as the difference
between interest earned on loans and investments and the interest expense paid
on deposits and other borrowings. Like other banks and financial institutions,
Wintrust's interest income and interest expense are affected by general economic
conditions and by the policies of regulatory authorities, including the monetary
policies of the Federal Reserve. Changes in the economic environment may
influence the growth rate of loans and deposits, the quality of the loan
portfolio and loan and deposit pricing. While management has taken measures
intended to manage the risks of operating in a changing interest rate
environment, there can be no assurance that such measures will be effective in
avoiding undue interest rate risk. If market interest rates should move contrary
to our "gap" position on interest earning assets and interest bearing
liabilities, the "gap" will work against us and our net interest income may be
negatively affected. Measured as of September 30, 1999, our short-term gap
position was relatively neutral in that the level of our interest-sensitive
assets that reprice within one year approximately matched the level of our
liabilities that reprice within the same period when adjusted for the effect of
interest rate cap contracts that we have entered into. Measured as of the same
date, we were slightly asset sensitive for the one- to five-year time frame.
While this would suggest that we would generally benefit from rising interest
rates, there can be no assurance that a dramatic change in the interest rate
environment will not adversely affect our results.
OUR FUTURE SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT ON OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE EFFECTIVELY IN THE
HIGHLY COMPETITIVE BANKING INDUSTRY.
The financial services business is highly competitive, and Wintrust
encounters strong direct competition for deposits, loans and other financial
services in all of its market areas. Wintrust's principal competitors include
other commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, mutual
funds, money market funds, finance companies, trust companies, insurers, leasing
companies, credit unions, mortgage companies, private issuers of debt
obligations and suppliers of other investment alternatives, such as securities
firms. Many of Wintrust's non-bank competitors are not subject to the same
degree of regulation as that imposed on bank holding companies, federally
insured banks and national or Illinois chartered banks. As a result, such
non-bank competitors have advantages over Wintrust in providing certain
services. In addition, in recent years, several major multi-bank holding
companies have entered or expanded in the Chicago metropolitan market.
Generally, these financial institutions are significantly larger than Wintrust
and have greater access to capital and other resources. In addition, our ability
to compete effectively in the marketplace is also dependent on our ability to
adapt successfully to technological changes within the banking and financial
services industries.
REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS ON DIVIDEND PAYMENTS FROM THE BANKS MAY AFFECT OUR
ABILITY TO COMMENCE PAYING DIVIDENDS TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS.
Wintrust has never paid a dividend to shareholders. As a holding company,
our ability to commence payment of dividends in the future will be largely
dependent on receipt of dividend income from our subsidiaries. In 1998, Lake
Forest Bank paid cash dividends to Wintrust in the amount of $8.25 million. None
of Wintrust's other banking subsidiaries has paid any dividends to date. Under
the provisions of the Illinois Banking Act, dividends may not be declared by
Lake Forest Bank, Hinsdale Bank, North Shore Community Bank, nor Libertyville
Bank except out of each bank's net profits (as defined therein), and unless each
bank has transferred to surplus at least one-tenth of its net profits since the
date of the declaration of the last preceding dividend, until the amount of its
surplus is at least equal to its capital. However, as Federal Reserve member
banks, dividends declared in any calendar year by any of the banks may not
exceed its net profit for the year plus its retained net profits for the
preceding two years. In addition, each of Barrington Bank and Crystal Lake Bank
is currently subject to additional
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restrictions prohibiting the payment of dividends by a de novo bank in its first
three years of operations. The de novo period will end for Barrington Bank in
December 1999, and for Crystal Lake Bank in December 2000. Subsequent to these
dates, the banks would be allowed to pay dividends subject to the regulatory
limitations that are applicable to national banks. As of September 30, 1999,
based upon applicable regulatory limitations, our bank subsidiaries (other than
Barrington Bank and Crystal Lake) had the capacity to pay approximately $13.1
million as dividends to Wintrust, subject to regulatory capital maintenance
requirements.
OUR BUSINESS MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE HIGHLY REGULATED ENVIRONMENT IN
WHICH WE OPERATE.
Wintrust, our banks and our trust company subsidiary are subject to
extensive federal and state legislation, regulation and supervision. Recently
enacted, proposed and future legislation and regulations have had, will continue
to have or may have significant impact on the financial services industry. Some
of the legislative and regulatory changes may benefit Wintrust, the banks and
Wintrust Asset Management; others, however, may increase our costs of doing
business and thus advantage our competitors.
OUR BUSINESS MAY BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE YEAR 2000 ISSUE.
A critical issue has emerged in the banking industry, and generally for all
industries that are heavily reliant upon computers, regarding how existing
software application programs and operating systems can accommodate the date
value for the Year 2000. The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer programs
being written using two digits (rather than four) to define the applicable year.
As such, certain programs that have time-sensitive software may recognize a date
using "00" as the Year 1900 rather than the Year 2000. As a result, the year
1999 (i.e. "99") could be the maximum date value these systems will be able to
accurately process. During 1997, management began the process of working with
its outside data processor and other software vendors to ensure that Wintrust is
prepared for the Year 2000. That process continued during 1998 and was completed
in mid-1999. Regardless of the Year 2000 compliance of Wintrust's systems, there
can be no assurance that Wintrust will not be adversely affected by the failure
of others to become Year 2000 compliant. Such risks may include potential losses
related to loans made to third parties whose businesses are adversely affected
by the Year 2000 issue, the disruption or inaccuracy of data provided by
non-Year 2000 compliant third parties and possible business disruption caused by
the failure of service providers, such as security and data processing companies
or power or telecommunications utilities, to become Year 2000 compliant. Because
of these uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the Year 2000 issue will
not have a material financial impact in any future period, although management
does not anticipate a material adverse effect.
THE FUTURE SALES OF OUR COMMON STOCK OR OTHER SECURITIES MAY DILUTE THE VALUE OF
THE COMMON STOCK.
The board of directors has the authority, without action or vote of the
shareholders, to issue all or part of any authorized but unissued shares of
common stock, including shares authorized but unissued under Wintrust's stock
option plans. In the future, we may need to issue additional securities, through
public or private offerings, in order to raise additional capital to support our
growth. Any such issuance will dilute the percentage of ownership interest of
shareholders and may dilute the per share book value of the common stock. In
addition, option holders may exercise their options at a time when we would
otherwise be able to obtain additional equity capital on more favorable terms.
The sale, or availability for sale, of a substantial number of shares of
common stock in the public market as a result of or following this offering
could adversely affect the common stock's market and could impair our ability to
raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
The selling shareholders will not pay any of the proceeds from the sale of
the shares of common stock to Wintrust. We expect to incur expenses in
connection with this offering in the amount of approximately $25,000 for
registration, legal, accounting and miscellaneous fees and expenses. We will not
pay for expenses such as commissions and discounts of brokers, dealers or agents
or the fees and expenses of counsel, if any, for the selling shareholders. See
"Selling Shareholders" and "Plan of Distribution."
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time by the
selling shareholders named in this prospectus of up to 352,942 shares of common
stock. The selling shareholders purchased these shares in November 1999 directly
from Wintrust in a private placement transaction. Because the issuance of shares
in that transaction was not registered with the SEC, the selling shareholders
have "restricted stock."
We are registering the shares to enable the selling shareholders to resell
the shares in the public market from time to time or on a delayed basis and to
permit secondary trading of the shares after they are sold by the selling
shareholders. We are paying for the registration of such securities but will not
pay for the fees and expenses of the selling shareholders, their attorneys or
other representatives, nor any selling commissions, brokerage fees or
underwriting discounts, related to any resale of the shares. See "Use of
Proceeds" and "Plan of Distribution." We have agreed to indemnify each of the
selling shareholders and their respective officers and directors, and each
person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such selling
shareholder, against certain losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses
arising under the securities laws in connection with this offering. Each of the
selling shareholders has agreed to indemnify us, our officers and directors, our
underwriters, if any, and each person who controls (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) us, against certain losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses arising under the securities laws in connection with this offering with
respect to certain written information furnished to us by such selling
shareholder.
The following table sets forth, to the best of our knowledge, information
concerning the selling shareholders, the number of shares to be offered and sold
by the selling shareholders and the amount of common stock that will be owned by
the selling shareholders following the offering (assuming sale of all shares of
common stock being offered hereby) by the selling shareholders.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OWNERSHIP OF NUMBER OF SHARES OWNERSHIP OF PERCENTAGE OF
COMMON STOCK OF COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK
SELLING SHAREHOLDER PRIOR TO OFFERING TO BE OFFERED AFTER OFFERING OWNED AFTER OFFERING
- ------------------- ----------------- ---------------- -------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CIVC Fund, L.P..... 294,118 294,118 0 --
Harpo, Inc......... 58,824 58,824 0 --
</TABLE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The common stock covered by this prospectus may be offered and sold from
time to time by the selling shareholders. As used herein, "selling shareholders"
includes those individuals or entities who may have had shares of common stock
given or transferred to them by a named selling shareholder after the date of
this prospectus and any individuals or entities who may have shares of common
stock pledged
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to them as collateral by a named selling shareholder after the date of this
prospectus. See "Selling Shareholders." The shares of common stock covered by
this prospectus may be sold by the selling shareholders in one or more types of
transactions (which may include block transactions) on Nasdaq, in the
over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through put or call options
transactions relating to the shares of common stock, through short sales of
shares of common stock, or a combination of such methods of sale, or otherwise
at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current
market price, or in negotiated transactions. The shares of common stock may be
sold by one or more of the following methods: (a) a block trade in which the
broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares of common stock as
agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal in order
to facilitate the transaction; (b) a purchase by a broker or dealer as
principal, and the resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to
this prospectus, including resale to another broker or dealer; (c) ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;
(d) privately negotiated transactions; (e) through put or call transactions; (f)
through short sales of the offered shares; and (g) through underwritten
transactions or otherwise. Thus, the period of distribution of these shares of
common stock may occur over an extended period of time. This offering is
expected to terminate on December 16, 2000, or such earlier date on which all
shares offered have been sold.
The selling shareholders may effect such transactions by selling the shares
of common stock directly to purchasers or to or through a broker or dealer, who
may act as an agent or principal. Such broker or dealer may receive compensation
in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions from the selling
shareholders and/or the purchasers of shares of common stock for whom such
broker or dealer may act as agent or to whom he sells as principal, or both
(which compensation as to a particular broker or dealer might be in excess of
customary commissions). We know of no existing arrangements between any selling
stockholder, broker, dealer, underwriter or agent relating to the sale or
distribution of the shares of common stock.
The selling shareholders will not pay any of the proceeds from the sale of
the shares of common stock to us. We expect to incur expenses in connection with
this offering in the amount of approximately $25,000 for registration, legal,
accounting and miscellaneous fees and expenses. The selling shareholders will be
solely responsible for commissions and discounts of brokers, dealers or agents,
other selling expenses and the fees and expenses of their own counsel related to
registration and resale of their shares, if any, none of which expenses will be
borne by the company.
In offering the securities, the selling shareholders and any broker-dealers
and any other participating broker-dealers who execute sales for the selling
shareholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section
2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales, and any profits
realized by the selling shareholders and the compensation of such broker-dealers
may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. In addition, any
shares covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144
may be sold under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
We intend to advise the selling shareholders that while they are selling
the securities, they (1) are required to comply with Regulation M under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as described in more detail below), (2) may not
engage in any stabilization activity, except as permitted under the Exchange
Act, (3) are required to furnish each broker-dealer (who may offer this common
stock) copies of this prospectus, and (4) may not bid for or purchase any
securities of Wintrust or attempt to induce any person to purchase any
securities except as permitted under the Exchange Act.
Regulation M under the Exchange Act prohibits, with certain exceptions,
participants in a distribution from bidding for or purchasing, for an account in
which the participant has a beneficial interest, any of the securities that are
the subject of the distribution. Regulation M also governs bids and
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purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with
a distribution of the security.
TRANSFER AGENT
The transfer agent for our common stock is Illinois Stock Transfer Company,
209 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 903, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters relating to the common stock offered by this
prospectus have been passed upon for us by Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz,
Chicago, Illinois. A member of such firm serves as a non-voting member of the
board of directors of Hinsdale Bank.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Wintrust and its subsidiaries
incorporated in this prospectus by reference to Wintrust's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, have been audited by KPMG LLP,
independent certified public accountants, as stated in their report. Their
report has been incorporated herein by reference in reliance on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC, as
required. You may copy and inspect the reports, proxy statements and other
information at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, or at the SEC's Regional Offices at
7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048, or at 500 West Madison Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60661. The Public Reference Section of the SEC at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 may also provide, at prescribed rates,
copies of such material. The SEC also maintains a Web site that contains
reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding
registrants, including Wintrust, that file electronically with the SEC. The
address of the site is http://www.sec.gov. You may also inspect reports and
other information concerning Wintrust at the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. The reports that
Wintrust files with the SEC are also available on our Web site
(http://www.wintrust.com).
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is
an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with
the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate
by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC
under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
until this offering terminates:
(1) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998.
(2) Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
1999.
(3) Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999.
(4) Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
1999.
(5) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated April 29, 1999, September 17,
1999, October 19, 1999, and October 26, 1999.
(6) The descriptions of (a) our Common Stock contained in our Registration
Statement on Form 8-A dated January 3, 1997, and (b) the associated preferred
share purchase rights contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
August 28, 1998.
You can request copies of these filings at no cost by contacting David A.
Dykstra, Executive Vice President, in writing at Wintrust Financial Corporation,
727 North Bank Lane, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-1951, or by phone at (847)
615-4096.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you
with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in
any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the
information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on
the front of this prospectus.
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