SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities exchange act of 1934
July 28, 1997
(Date of Report)
FIRSTBANK OF ILLINOIS CO.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
0-8426 37-6141253
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
205 South Fifth Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701
(Address of principal executive offices)
(217) 753-7543
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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ITEM 5. Other Events
On July 22, 1997, Firstbank of Illinois Co. ("Firstbank") announced that its
Board of Directors authorized a three-for-two common stock split. The split,
to be effected in the form of a 50% stock dividend, is to be distributed on
September 1, 1997 to shareholders of record as of August 15, 1997.
Firstbank also announced a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.18, payable
on the new number of shares resulting from the stock split.
At July 18, 1997, Firstbank had 20,000,000 common shares with $1.00 par value
per share authorized, 10,479,243 common shares and 50,434 common shares held
in Treasury.
A press release publicly announcing these Board actions is attached.
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
FIRSTBANK OF ILLINOIS CO.
Registrant
By:/s/Chris R. Zettek
Chris R. Zettek
ITS: Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
DATE: July 28, 1997
<PAGE>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 22, 1997
FIRSTBANK OF ILLINOIS CO. ANNOUNCES
THREE-FOR-TWO STOCK SPLIT AND REGULAR QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
SPRINGFIELD, IL, JULY 22, 1997 -- Firstbank of Illinois Co. today
announced that its board of directors has authorized a three-for-two common
stock split and declared its regular quarterly dividend.
The three-for-two split is to be effected in the form of a 50% stock
dividend and payable September 1, 1997. One additional share of common stock
will be issued for every two shares held by shareholders of record as of August
15, 1997. Firstbank currently has approximately 10.47 million shares of common
stock outstanding.
The cash dividend, which was increased for the ninth consecutive year in
April 1997, will be adjusted to reflect the split. The board of directors
declared its regular quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share (post-split) payable
October 1, 1997 to shareholders of record as of September 12, 1997.
Mark H. Ferguson, Firstbank's chairman and chief executive officer, said,
"The stock split is aimed at broadening our market distribution and enhancing
the liquidity of our stock. The resulting per share market price should also
be more attractive to our retail investor base."
Shareholders entitled to a fraction of a share as a result of the stock
dividend will receive a cash payment for the fractional share based on the
closing price of Firstbank's common stock on August 15, 1997. Distribution of
additional shares and cash payments for fractional shares is expected to occur
on or about September 1, 1997.
Firstbank is the largest bank holding company headquartered in downstate
Illinois. The company provides banking, trust, and other financial services
through its subsidiaries in Central and Southern Illinois and the St. Louis
Metro area. Company subsidiaries in Illinois include Central Bank (Fairview
Heights), Central National Bank of Mattoon, Elliott State Bank (Jacksonville),
Farmers and Merchants Bank of Carlinville, The First National Bank of Central
Illinois (Springfield), First Trust and Savings Bank of Taylorville, FFG Trust,
Inc. (Springfield), FFG Investments Inc.(Springfield); and in Missouri include
Colonial Bank (Des Peres), Duchesne Bank (St. Peters) and Zemenick & Walker,
Inc. (St. Louis). The Company operates 42 offices in 14 Illinois counties and
six offices in Missouri.
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