UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 2)
BANK WEST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $.01 par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
065631103
(CUSIP Number)
Charles R. Haywood
Foley & Lardner
One IBM Plaza
330 North Wabash Avenue
Suite 3300
Chicago, Illinois 60611
(312) 755-2510
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
September 19, 1997
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to
report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is
filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the
following box [ ].
<PAGE>
1 Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Number of Above Person (optional)
LaSalle Financial Partners, Limited Partnership
2 Check The Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (a)[X]
(b)[ ]
3 SEC Use Only
4 Source of Funds: WC, OO
5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required
Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [X]
6 Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
7 Sole Voting Power
0 shares
Number of
Shares 8 Shared Voting Power
Beneficially 119,000 shares
Owned By
Each Reporting 9 Sole Dispositive Power
Person With 0 shares
10 Shared Dispositive Power
119,000 shares
11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
119,000 shares
12 Check Box If The Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes
Certain Shares [ ]
13 Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)
6.7%
14 Type of Reporting Person
PN
<PAGE>
1 Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Number of Above Person (optional)
Richard J. Nelson
2 Check The Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (a)[X]
(b)[ ]
3 SEC Use Only
4 Source of Funds: Not Applicable
5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required
Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [X]
6 Citizenship or Place of Organization
United States
7 Sole Voting Power
0 shares
Number of
Shares 8 Shared Voting Power
Beneficially 119,000 shares
Owned By
Each Reporting 9 Sole Dispositive Power
Person With 0 shares
10 Shared Dispositive Power
119,000 shares
11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
119,000 shares
12 Check Box If The Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes
Certain Shares [ ]
13 Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)
6.7%
14 Type of Reporting Person
IN
<PAGE>
1 Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Number of Above Person (optional)
Peter T. Kross
2 Check The Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (a)[X]
(b)[ ]
3 SEC Use Only
4 Source of Funds: Not Applicable
5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required
Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [X]
6 Citizenship or Place of Organization
United States
7 Sole Voting Power
0 shares
Number of
Shares 8 Shared Voting Power
Beneficially 119,000 shares
Owned By
Each Reporting 9 Sole Dispositive Power
Person With 0 shares
10 Shared Dispositive Power
119,000 shares
11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
119,000 shares
12 Check Box If The Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes
Certain Shares [ ]
13 Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)
6.7%
14 Type of Reporting Person
IN
<PAGE>
1 Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification Number of Above Person (optional)
Florence Nelson
2 Check The Appropriate Box If a Member of a Group (a)[X]
(b)[ ]
3 SEC Use Only
4 Source of Funds: Not Applicable
5 Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required
Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e) [ ]
6 Citizenship or Place of Organization
United States
7 Sole Voting Power
0 shares
Number of
Shares 8 Shared Voting Power
Beneficially 0 shares
Owned By
Each Reporting 9 Sole Dispositive Power
Person With 0 shares
10 Shared Dispositive Power
0 shares
11 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
0 shares
12 Check Box If The Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes
Certain Shares [X]
13 Percent of Class Represented By Amount in Row (11)
6.7%
14 Type of Reporting Person
IN
<PAGE>
1. Security and Issuer
This is Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D (as earlier amended,
the "Original 13D") filed jointly by LaSalle Financial Partners, Limited
Partnership (the "Partnership"), Richard J. Nelson, Peter T. Kross and
Florence Nelson (the "Group") and relates to the common stock, $.01 par
value (the "Common Stock"), of Bank West Financial Corporation (the
"Issuer"). The following items in the Original 13D are amended to read
in their entirety as follows:
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction
The Group's goal is to profit from appreciation in the market
price of the Common Stock. The Group expects to actively assert
shareholder rights, in the manner described below, with the purpose to
acquire control over and influence the policies of the Issuer by electing
the Partnership's own nominees to the Issuer's board of directors, with
the intent of influencing a business combination involving the Issuer.
The Partnership's stated purpose is to emphasize investments in
the stocks of selected thrifts, banks and savings banks which the General
Partners believe to be undervalued or that they believe to represent
"special situation" investment opportunities. The Partnership has further
described its purpose, in its private placement memorandum, as follows:
Considering the current opportunity to purchase shares of
selected thrifts and savings banks at substantial discounts to
intrinsic value as determined by the General Partners, with
significant appreciation potential available due to merger and
acquisition activity in the banking industry, the Partnership
currently intends to concentrate its investments in thrifts,
banks and savings banks which, in the opinion of the General
Partners, possess certain buyout characteristics. Concentrated
investments may be made in companies to allow the partnership to
influence or to effect control over management's decisions in
order to achieve Partnership objectives.
The Partnership believes that its acquisition of the Common Stock is in
accordance with these stated purposes.
By letter dated August 22, 1997, the Partnership stated its
intent to nominate Mr. Nelson for election as a director of the Issuer at
the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in October, 1997. (On
August 25, 1997, the Partnership sent to the Issuer a version of the
August 22 letter corrected to remove typographical errors; that corrected
version is attached as Exhibit 3.) Shortly before sending the letter of
August 22, Mr. Nelson discussed the Group's intentions regarding the
proposed nomination with Mr. Paul Sydloski, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Issuer. Mr. Nelson stated that the Group was interested in
Mr. Nelson becoming a Board nominee for election as a director of the
Issuer. However, because the deadline for notices of intent to nominate
directors by shareholders was August 23, 1997, in order that the Group's
options not be foreclosed, the Group felt obliged to formally give notice
of its intent to nominate Mr. Nelson. The Group intends to continue to
work with the Issuer regarding the nomination of Mr. Nelson.
On September 5, 1997, the Partnership received a response to its
letter of August 22. The Issuer did not respond to Mr. Nelson's request
that he be made a Board nominee. The Issuer requested that the
Partnership submit additional information regarding Mr. Nelson. A copy of
that letter is attached as Exhibit 4.
On September 9, 1997, the Partnership delivered its response to
the Issuer's letter of September 5. A copy of the Partnership's response
is attached as Exhibit 5. Together with the letter the Partnership
delivered a revised notice of intent to nominate. A copy of that revised
notice of intent to nominate is attached as Exhibit 6.
By letter dated September 10, 1997, the Partnership made demand
upon the Issuer for access to the Issuer's stock ledger, stockholder list,
and books and records. A copy of that letter is attached as Exhibit 7.
On September 10, 1997, the Partnership's counsel sent to the Issuer's
counsel a copy of certain governing documents of the Partnership,
including the partnership agreement and a form of securities subscription
agreement. A copy of the letter accompanying those documents is attached
as Exhibit 8.
Following September 10, the Partnership, together with its
counsel, discussed with the Issuer and the Issuer's counsel issues
surrounding the notice of intent to nominate, the stockholder list demand,
and the nomination of Mr. Nelson. By letter dated September 12, 1997, the
Issuer, through its counsel, responded to the documents sent to the
Issuer's counsel by the Partnership's counsel on September 10. A copy of
that letter is attached as Exhibit 9. By letter dated September 17, 1997,
the Issuer, through its counsel, accepted the Partnership's notice of
intent to nominate Mr. Nelson and responded to the Partnership's demand
for stockholder materials. A copy of that letter is attached as Exhibit
10.
On September 19, 1997, in response to the Issuer's expanding its
Board of Directors from eight to nine individuals and the nomination by
the Board of Directors of Mr. Harry E. Mika as a Board nominee for
election to the Board of Directors, the Partnership withdrew its notice of
intent to nominate Mr. Nelson. A copy of the letter of withdrawal is
attached as Exhibit 11. A copy of a related press release issued by the
Partnership, released September 23, 1997, is attached as Exhibit 12.
The Partnership does not at this time intend to nominate any
other individual for election to the Issuer's Board of Directors. The
Partnership currently supports Mr. Mika for election to the Board; the
Partnership believes that as the largest independent shareholder, Mr. Mika
will continue to encourage the Board of Directors to maximize shareholder
value in the best interests of all shareholders. The Partnership does not
rule out the future possibility of nominating other individuals for
election to the Issuer's Board of Directors.
The Group's purpose in seeking representatives on the Board of
Directors is primarily to attempt to influence the Board of Directors to
consider all possible strategic alternatives available to the Issuer in
order to increase the market price of the Common Stock. One way of
achieving this goal is to seek out another financial institution and
attempt to implement a business combination. The Group is interested in
influencing the Issuer's Board of Directors to explore seriously, in
consultation with independent financial advisors, this and other possible
means of improving the market price of the Common Stock, to the extent
such options may not have already been fully explored. To the extent such
influence may be deemed to constitute a "control purpose" with respect to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations
thereunder, the Group has such a purpose.
The above-stated purpose to control is unrelated to the Office
of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") regulations. Specifically, the Group is
aware that regulations promulgated by the OTS contain separate standards
with regard to acquisition of "control" of a federally chartered savings
institution. Those regulations require OTS approval for acquisition of
control under certain conditions. Some of the provisions are based in
part on numerical criteria. One of the provisions creates a rebuttable
presumption of control where a person acquires more than 10 percent of the
voting stock of a savings association and other conditions are met.
Another provision creates a rebuttable presumption of control where a
person acquires proxies to elect one-third or more of the savings
association's board of directors and other conditions are met. The Group
has no present plans to cross these numerical thresholds.
The Group intends to continue to evaluate the Issuer and its
business prospects and intends to consult with management of the Issuer,
other shareholders of the Common Stock or other persons to further its
objectives. The Group may make further purchases of shares of the Common
Stock or may dispose of any or all of its shares of the Common Stock at
any time. At present, and except as disclosed herein, the Group has no
specific plans or proposals that relate to, or could result in, any of the
matters referred to in paragraphs (a) through (j), inclusive, of Item 4 of
Schedule 13D. The Group intends to continue to explore the options
available to it. The Group may, at any time or from time to time, review
or reconsider its position with respect to the Issuer and may formulate
plans with respect to matters referred to in Item 4 of Schedule 13D.
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits
No. Description
1 Joint Filing Agreement*
2 Professional Account Agreement, dated March 6, 1996,
between the Partnership and each of the subsidiaries of The
Bear Stearns Companies Inc.*
3 Letter from Richard J. Nelson to James A. Koessel, dated
August 22, 1997.*
4 Letter from James A. Koessel to Richard J. Nelson, dated
September 5, 1997.*
5 Letter from Richard J. Nelson to James A. Koessel, dated
September 10, 1997.*
6 Letter from Richard J. Nelson to James A. Koessel, dated
September 10, 1997.*
7 Letter from Richard J. Nelson to James A. Koessel, dated
September 10, 1997.*
8 Letter from Phillip M. Goldberg to Gerald F. Heupel, Jr.,
dated September 10, 1997.
9 Letter from Gerald F. Heupel, Jr. to Phillip M. Goldberg,
dated September 12, 1997.
10 Letter from Gerald F. Heupel, Jr. to Richard J. Nelson,
dated September 17, 1997.
11 Letter from Richard J. Nelson to James A. Koessel, dated
September 19, 1997.
12 Press release issued by LaSalle Financial Partners, Limited
Partnership, dated September 23, 1997.
______
*Previously filed with the SEC as part of the Original 13D.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief,
I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
Date: September 23, 1997
LaSALLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: LaSALLE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
a General Partner
By: /s/ Richard J. Nelson
Richard J. Nelson, President
/s/ Richard J. Nelson
Richard J. Nelson
/s/ Peter T. Kross
Peter T. Kross
/s/ Florence Nelson
Florence Nelson
EXHIBIT 8
FOLEY & LARDNER
ONE IBM PLAZA
330 NORTH WABASH AVENUE, SUITE 3300
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60611-3608
TELEPHONE (312) 755-1900
FACSIMILE (312) 755-1925
WRITER'S DIRECT LINE
(312) 755-2549
September 10, 1997
Via Overnight Delivery
Mr. Gerald Heupel, Jr.
Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick L.L.P.
734 15th Street, N.W.
12th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Dear Jerry:
Enclosed please find (1) a copy of the March 1996 private
placement memorandum of LaSalle Kross Partners, Limited Partnership (the
"Partnership"), (2) a copy of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership, and (3) a form of subscription agreement. (As you know,
LaSalle Kross Partners was the former name of the current LaSalle
Financial Partners.)
As we agreed, by informally providing these materials to you at
your request, you have represented that Bank West Financial Corporation
("Bank West") will not challenge the adequacy of the Partnership's
disclosures in its Schedule 13D, as amended, with respect to disclosures
of contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships with respect
to the securities of Bank West. You have also represented that Bank West
agrees that the information enclosed satisfies similar requirements of
Bank West's Articles of Incorporation in connection with the Partnership's
notice of intent to nominate a director for election to the Board of
Directors of Bank West.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Phillip M. Goldberg
Phillip M. Goldberg
EXHIBIT 9
LAW OFFICES
ELIAS, MATZ, TIERNAN & HERRICK L.L.P.
12TH FLOOR
734 15TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
______
TELEPHONE (202) 347-0300
FACSIMILE: (202) 347-2172
WWW.EMTH.COM
September 12, 1997
VIA TELECOPY
Phillip M. Goldberg, Esq.
Foley & Lardner
330 North Wabash Avenue, Suite 3300
Chicago, Illinois 60611-3608
Re: LaSalle Financial Partners
Dear Phil:
We received from you yesterday a copy of the March 1996 private
placement memorandum of LaSalle Kross Partners, Limited Partnership, and a
copy of the limited partnership agreement attached to the private
placement memorandum. When I indicated in our informal discussions on
Wednesday, September 10, 1997, that delivery of the private placement
memorandum and limited partnership agreement should satisfy all
outstanding major issues with respect to the partnership's nominating
materials, I had assumed that a complete copy of the current limited
partnership agreement would be delivered. (I understand that in the
interests of time you probably pulled from your files the most readily
available copy.)
The limited partnership agreement received yesterday has
presumably been amended if for no other reason than to change the name of
the partnership and to complete Exhibit A. As previously indicated, we
believe that Item 5(b)(1)(viii) of Schedule 14A encompasses the limited
partnership agreement and requires that the names of the parties to such
agreement be disclosed. Accordingly, we respectfully request that a
completed copy of Exhibit A be provided as soon as possible, together with
any amendments to the partnership agreement. Also, page 8 of the private
placement memorandum was missing from our copy.
While we cannot predict at this time what action the Board may
take, please note that failure to provide the above information may
adversely impact the Board's acceptance of your nominating materials as
complete. If the nominating materials are determined to be incomplete and
the nomination is not accepted, this could also adversely impact part of
the stated purpose in the partnership's pending request for various
records.
With respect to the adequacy of the partnership's Schedule 13D,
I believe there may be have a misunderstanding in our discussions. I had
assumed that whatever information is provided to the Company or us with
respect to the nominating materials would also be included in your
Schedule 13D. In this regard, please note that the Schedule 13D
disclosure requirements are intended to benefit not just the issuer but
also all stockholders and the marketplace in general. While we have not
been requested at this time to challenge the adequacy of the disclosures
in the Schedule 13D, please note that since Item 6 of Schedule 13D is
substantively identical to Item 5(b)(1)(viii) of Schedule 14A, we cannot
give you any comfort on the adequacy of the Schedule 13D disclosures if
comparable information is not provided in the Schedule 13D.
If you have any questions, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
/s/ Gerald F. Heupel, Jr.
Gerald F. Heupel, Jr.
GFH:dcf
cc: Bank West
EXHIBIT 10
LAW OFFICES
ELIAS, MATZ, TIERNAN & HERRICK L.L.P.
12TH FLOOR
734 15TH STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
______
TELEPHONE (202) 347-0300
FACSIMILE: (202) 347-2172
WWW.EMTH.COM
September 17, 1997
Via Telecopy and Certified Mail,
Return Receipt Requested
Richard J. Nelson, President
LaSalle Capital Management, Inc.
350 East Michigan Avenue, Suite 500
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Re: Bank West Financial Corporation
Dear Mr. Nelson:
Please be advised that Bank West Financial Corporation (the
"Company") has requested us to respond to your letter dated September 10,
1997 to James A. Koessel requesting various books and records.
As you are aware, the Board of Directors of the Company has
recently increased the number of authorized directors from eight to nine
and has accepted the nomination of Harry E. Mika. Mr. Mika, who owns over
126,000 shares of the Company's common stock, is the Company's largest
individual shareholder. In addition, Mr. Mika was previously a director
and senior officer of other local financial institutions, including
MetroBank in Grand Rapids and Ameribank in Muskegon, Michigan, prior to
such companies being sold. Mr. Mika remains active in the local community
and is very familiar with the Company's market area. Mr. Mika is also a
Director of the Grand Rapids Urban League, a Director of the Grand Rapids
Builders Association Foundation, a Director of the St. Alphonsus
Foundation, and a Trustee of the Grand Rapids Sierra Club.
Mr. Mika is a well-qualified, independent nominee whose
nomination was accepted by the Board because of his large position in the
Company's stock, his extensive experience with other financial
institutions, and his contacts in and familiarity with the Company's
market area. Please be advised that the Company has no voting or
standstill agreement with Mr. Mika, and as you are aware such items were
not related in connection with the Board's consideration of your
nomination.
As evidenced by Mr. Mika's candidacy, the Board of Directors is
not looking to entrench itself. The Board of Directors is aware of its
fiduciary duties to all stockholders and is open to constructive comments
from all stockholders. The Company hopes that you are able to support
Mr. Mika's candidacy and that you are able to agree that a costly and
disruptive proxy contest is not in the best interests of the Company and
its stockholders.
The Company desires to remain cooperative with you to the extent
possible, especially while you may still be able to agree that a proxy
contest is not in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
In order to be responsive to your request and to assist you in determining
that a proxy contest would not be a prudent use of your time and
resources, the Company is providing the information set forth below to
you. The responses are keyed to the numbered paragraphs set forth in your
September 10, 1997 letter.
In response to the first paragraph of your September 10, 1997
letter which was not numbered, please be advised that the Company sent to
you yesterday via federal express a copy of the stockholder list as of
September 10, 1997, which is the most recent date currently available. As
requested by you, the list shows the name and address of each stockholder
in alphabetical order and the number of shares registered in the name of
each such stockholder. As part of the Company's spirit of cooperation,
the Company sent the list to you rather than forcing you to go to
Grand Rapids to inspect the list.
A list as of the close of business on September 15, 1997, the voting
record date, will be available to the Company later this week and
will be sent to your authorized agent via federal express upon
receipt by the Company. As a result, the daily stock transfer sheets
were not believed necessary.
The Company's representatives expect to obtain a listing as of the voting
record date from the Depository Trust Company either later today or
tomorrow, which will be forwarded to your authorized agent promptly
upon receipt.
Please be advised that neither the Company nor its representatives have a
list of non-objecting beneficial owners and acquiescing beneficial
owners. Such list has not been requested, and we are unaware of any
statutory requirement or governing case law that would require the
Company to generate information not currently part of its books and
records.
Please be advised that we are unaware of any statutory requirement or
governing case law that would require the names and addresses of the
Company's employees to be provided. For purposes of any proxy
solicitation, the business address of each employee is Bank West
Financial Corporation, 2185 Three Mile Road, N.W., Grand Rapids,
Michigan 49544. The names of the Company's officers will be
disclosed in the Company's proxy materials and annual report to
stockholders. However, for privacy and other reasons, no further
information is being provided.
The Company's representatives expect to obtain the Pershing/DLJ list
either later today or tomorrow, which will be forwarded to your
authorized agent promptly upon receipt.
The Company's representatives expect to obtain the Philadep list either
later today or tomorrow, which will be forwarded to your authorized
agent promptly upon receipt.
1. The ADP respondent listing is not expected to be mailed to the
Company's representatives until tomorrow, and the list will be
forwarded to your authorized agent promptly upon receipt.
2. The Bank of New York list is expected to be received by the Company's
representatives shortly and will be forwarded to your authorized
agent promptly upon receipt.
3. The record date information from ADP is expected to be received by
the Company's representatives shortly and will be forwarded to your
authorized agent promptly upon receipt.
4. Please be advised that you and/or your counsel are already in
possession of all communications regarding your nomination for
election as a director. It is unclear how any of the additional
information is specifically related to your stated purpose. In any
event, please be advised that the minutes of any Board meeting held
to consider the nominations received from Harry E. Mika and yourself
have not been finalized at this time and are currently unavailable.
However, as you were informed by telephone on September 15, 1997, the
Board of Directors held a special meeting on September 15, 1997 in
order to promptly consider your nomination. At the meeting, the
Board considered the background, qualifications and experience of
both yourself and Mr. Mika and decided to accept Mr. Mika as part of
the Board's slate of nominees.
5. Please be advised that during the past two years, there have been no
amendments to the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws,
except as set forth below. On September 15, 1997, the Board of
Directors approved an increase in the number of authorized directors
from eight to nine. As a result, the third sentence of Section 4.1
of the Company's Bylaws was amended to read in its entirety as
follows: "The Board of Directors shall consist of nine persons." In
addition, on July 28, 1997 the Board of Directors amended Section 2.2
of the Bylaws to provide that the annual meeting of stockholders
"shall be held each year on the fourth Wednesday of October at the
hour of 10:00 A.M., or such other date and time as may be determined
by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of such meeting."
6. Please be advised that the last paragraph on page 2 of your
September 10, 1997 letter is overly broad as there is no timeframe
stated. With respect to the request for a computer tape, the Company
expects to receive a copy of the computer tape later this week, which
will be forwarded to your authorized agent promptly upon receipt.
Finally, please be advised that the above information is being
provided to you by the Company in the spirit of cooperation and, pursuant
to your discussions with the Company and as a good faith gesture on the
part of the Company, the Company has accepted the nomination of Richard
Nelson under Article 7.F of the Company's Articles of Incorporation.
However, the providing of the information and the acceptance of the
nomination should not in any way be deemed an admission by the Company
that you have provided all of the required information in your
Schedule 13D. In the event that you decide to proceed with a proxy
contest, the Company reserves all of its rights with respect to the
adequacy of your Schedule 13D. This letter supersedes our letter of even
date sent to you earlier today.
If you have any questions, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
/s/ Gerald F. Heupel, Jr.
Gerald F. Heupel, Jr.
cc: Phillip M. Goldberg, Esq.
Bank West
EXHIBIT 11
LASALLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, L.P.
Suite 500
350 E. Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
______________________
Telephone (616) 344-4993
Facsimile (616) 382-2382
September 19, 1997
James A. Koessel
Vice President and Secretary
Bank West Financial Corporation
2185 Three Mile Road, N.W.
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544
Dear Mr. Koessel:
On behalf of LaSalle Financial Partners, Limited Partnership, please be
advised that the Partnership hereby withdraws its notice of intent to
nominate Richard J. Nelson for election to the Board of Directors of Bank
West Financial Corporation, at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Sincerely,
LA SALLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, L.P.
By: LaSalle Capital Management, Inc.
/s/ Richard J. Nelson
By: Richard J. Nelson
President
RJN:aln
EXHIBIT 12
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: RICHARD J. NELSON
(616) 344-4993
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LASALLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS SUPPORTS
7.2% SHAREHOLDER FOR ELECTION TO
BANK WEST FINANCIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
___________________________
Kalamazoo, Michigan, September 23, 1997 LaSalle Financial Partners, L.P.
announced today that the Partnership will support Harry E. Mika, owner of
126,300 shares of Bank West Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: BWFC), as a
candidate for election to the Board of Directors. Bank West Financial has
agreed to Mr. Mika's request to be placed on the management slate of
director nominees for election to the Board of Directors at the 1997
Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for October 29, 1997.
LaSalle Financial Partners has withdrawn its notice to nominate Richard J.
Nelson, a General Partner of the Partnership, for election to the Board of
Directors. Peter T. Kross, also a General Partner of LaSalle Financial,
stated that "we are pleased that Mr. Mika is being proposed for election
to the Board of Directors, and we believe he will provide valuable input
to the Board." Mr. Kross further commented; "recent discussions with Mr.
Mika assure us that as the largest independent shareholder, he will
continue to encourage the Board of Directors to maximize shareholder value
in the best interests of all shareholders."
# # #
