PROSPECTUS Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4)
---------- File Nos. 333-108452
333-108827
1,197,486 SHARES
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK
-----------------------
Wintrust Financial Corporation is offering 1,197,486 shares of its common stock.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"WTFC." The last reported sale price of our common stock as reported on Nasdaq
on September 15, 2003 was $35.80 per share.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES RISKS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE "RISK
FACTORS" SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 13.
-----------------------------
PRICE $35.80 PER SHARE
-----------------------------
PER SHARE TOTAL
Public offering price.................... $35.80 $42,869,999
Underwriting discount.................... $ 2.14 $ 2,562,620
Proceeds, before expenses, to Wintrust... $33.66 $40,307,379
The underwriters may also purchase up to an additional 179,622 shares of common
stock from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount,
within 30 days from the date of this prospectus to cover over-allotments, if
any.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS
OF ANY BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
The shares of common stock will be ready for delivery on or about September 19,
2003.
-----------------------
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
RAYMOND JAMES
STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY
INCORPORATED
SANDLER O'NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.
-----------------------
September 16, 2003
[MAP SHOWING LOCATIONS OF CURRENT AND
PENDING BANKING AND SUBSIDIARY OFFICES]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Prospectus Summary..........................................................1
Summary Consolidated Financial Data.........................................9
Risk Factors...............................................................13
Use of Proceeds............................................................18
Capitalization.............................................................19
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy............................20
Underwriting...............................................................21
Transfer Agent.............................................................23
Legal Matters..............................................................23
Experts ..................................................................23
Where You Can Find More Information........................................23
Documents Incorporated by Reference........................................23
------------------------
You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not,
authorized any other person to provide you with different information. This
prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it seeking an offer to buy, these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted. The
information in this prospectus is complete and accurate as of the date on the
front cover, but the information may have changed since that date.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We make certain forward-looking statements in this prospectus and in
the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus that are based upon
our current expectations and projections about current events. We intend these
forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for
forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of these safe
harbor provisions. You can identify these statements from our use of the words
"may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "plan," "potential," "estimate,"
"project," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect," "target" and similar
expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
o our goals, intentions and expectations;
o our business plans and growth strategies; and
o estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits.
These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks,
assumptions and uncertainties, including among other things, changes in general
economic and business conditions and the risks and other factors set forth in
the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page 13.
Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results,
performance or achievements, or industry results, may be materially different
from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, our
past results of operations do not necessarily indicate our future results. You
should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, which speak
only as of the date they were made. We will not update these forward-looking
statements, even though our situation may change in the future, unless we are
obligated to do so under the federal securities laws. We qualify all of our
forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
i
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The items in the following summary are described in more detail later
in this prospectus or in the other information incorporated by reference into
this prospectus. This summary provides an overview of selected information and
does not contain all of the information you should consider. Therefore, you
should also read the more detailed information included in this prospectus, our
consolidated financial statements and the other information that is incorporated
by reference in this prospectus before making a decision to invest in our common
stock. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in this prospectus assumes
that the underwriters will not exercise their option to purchase additional
shares to cover over-allotments.
ABOUT WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
We are a financial holding company headquartered in Lake Forest,
Illinois, with total assets of approximately $4.1 billion at June 30, 2003. We
currently operate seven community banks, primarily in affluent suburbs of
Chicago, which provide community-oriented, personal and commercial banking
services primarily to individuals and small to mid-size businesses through 32
banking facilities. Each of our banks provides a full complement of commercial
and consumer loan and deposit products and services. We provide wealth
management services through our trust company, investment adviser and
broker-dealer subsidiaries to customers, primarily in the Midwest, as well as to
customers of our banks. In addition, we are involved in specialty lending
through a number of operating subsidiaries or divisions of certain of our banks.
Our specialty lending niches include one of the five largest, based on
management's estimates, commercial insurance premium finance companies in the
United States; a company which provides accounts receivable financing and
administrative services to the temporary staffing industry; and an indirect auto
lending business which purchases loans through Chicago-area automobile
dealerships.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
We have grown from $1.3 billion in assets at December 31, 1998 to $4.1
billion in assets at June 30, 2003 and our diluted earnings per share have
increased at a compound annual growth rate of 32% over the five-year period
ended December 31, 2002. The following table highlights the financial
performance of our organization for the five-year period ended December 31, 2002
and six-month periods ended June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2002.
AS OF OR FOR THE
SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, AS OF OR FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------- ------------------------------------------------------
2003 2002 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Total revenue............ $ 91,780 $ 73,108 $ 158,800 $ 102,812 $ 79,306 $ 57,542 $ 44,839
Net income............... 17,282 12,669 27,875 18,439 11,155 9,427 6,245
Earnings per share
(diluted)............. 0.94 0.77 1.60 1.27 0.83 0.73 0.49
Total assets............. 4,132,394 3,219,400 3,721,555 2,705,422 2,102,806 1,679,382 1,348,048
Loans.................... 2,896,148 2,308,945 2,556,086 2,018,479 1,547,596 1,270,126 974,031
Mortgage loans held-for-
sale................. 84,643 27,735 90,446 42,904 10,424 8,123 18,031
Total deposits........... 3,419,946 2,608,507 3,089,124 2,314,636 1,826,576 1,463,622 1,229,154
Common shareholders'
equity................ 249,399 205,999 227,002 141,278 102,276 92,947 75,205
Return on average assets. 0.90% 0.88% 0.87% 0.79% 0.60% 0.63% 0.53%
Return on average equity. 14.74% 15.85% 14.76% 15.24% 11.51% 11.58% 8.68%
1
The following table shows the compound annual growth rates we achieved
over the one-, two-, three-, four- and five-year periods ended December 31,
2002.
COMPOUND ANNUAL GROWTH RATES
1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 YEAR
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Total revenue..................... 54.5% 41.5% 40.3% 37.2% 38.0%
Net income........................ 51.2 58.1 43.5 45.4 41.9
Earnings per share (diluted)...... 26.0 38.8 29.9 34.4 32.0
Total assets...................... 37.6 33.0 30.4 28.9 28.7
Loans............................. 26.6 28.5 26.3 27.3 29.5
Total deposits.................... 33.5 30.0 28.3 25.9 27.5
Common shareholders' equity....... 60.7 49.0 34.7 31.8 27.0
COMMUNITY BANKING
Each of our existing banking subsidiaries was founded as a de novo, or
new, banking organization within the last approximately twelve years. Our
financial performance has been and continues to be affected by costs associated
with growing market share in deposits and loans, opening new banks and branch
facilities, and building an experienced management team. Our recent financial
performance generally reflects the improved profitability of our operating
subsidiaries as they mature, offset by the costs of establishing new banks and
opening new branch facilities. Our experience has been that it generally takes
from 13 to 24 months for new banks to first achieve operational profitability
depending on the number and timing of branch facilities added.
The following table provides information regarding each of our existing
banks as of June 30, 2003.
TOTAL ASSETS NUMBER OF
BANK DATE OPENED (IN THOUSANDS) FACILITIES
-------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ------------
Lake Forest........................... December 1991 $1,011,051 7
Hinsdale.............................. October 1993 688,015 5
North Shore Community................. September 1994 817,750 7
Libertyville.......................... October 1995 540,577 5
Barrington............................ December 1996 488,672 2
Crystal Lake.......................... December 1997 356,999 5
Northbrook............................ November 2000 217,091 1
We are in the process of organizing our eighth de novo bank in Beverly,
a residential neighborhood on the southwest side of Chicago, which we expect to
open during 2003. In addition, we recently announced plans to acquire two
existing community-oriented banks, both relatively newly formed de novo banks.
One of the banks opened in 1995 and the other opened in 2001. Each of these
banks has two banking offices, all located in northwest suburban Chicago.
Combined, the two banks had total assets of approximately $181 million at June
30, 2003. Both of the acquisitions are expected to close during the fourth
quarter of 2003. See "Recent Developments."
WEALTH MANAGEMENT SERVICES
We currently offer a full range of wealth management services through
four separate subsidiaries, including trust and investment services, asset
management and securities brokerage services marketed primarily under the Wayne
Hummer name. We acquired the Wayne Hummer operations, based in the Chicago area,
in February 2002. Wayne Hummer Investments, our broker-dealer subsidiary, has
been in operation since 1931.
2
Through Wayne Hummer Trust Company we offer trust and investment
services to existing bank customers and are also targeting small to mid-size
businesses and affluent individuals whose needs command the personalized
attention offered by our experienced trust professionals. Assets under
administration at the trust company were approximately $485.3 million at June
30, 2003.
Through Wayne Hummer Investments, a registered broker-dealer, we
provide a full range of private client and securities brokerage services to
approximately 35,000 clients, located primarily in the Midwest. Client assets at
the brokerage firm were approximately $4.2 billion at June 30, 2003. Focused
Investments, LLC, a broker-dealer and wholly-owned subsidiary of Wayne Hummer
Investments, provides a full range of investment services to clients through a
network of relationships with community-based financial institutions primarily
in Illinois.
Wayne Hummer Asset Management Company, a registered investment adviser,
provides money management services and advisory services to individuals and
institutional accounts as well as four proprietary mutual funds, and also
provides portfolio management and financial supervision for a wide range of
pension and profit-sharing plans. We acquired Lake Forest Capital Management
Company, a registered investment adviser, in February 2003. Lake Forest Capital
Management Company is operating as a separate division of Wayne Hummer Asset
Management Company. At June 30, 2003, individual accounts managed by Wayne
Hummer Asset Management Company, including the accounts of Lake Forest Capital
Management Company, totaled approximately $704.9 million, while the four managed
mutual funds had approximately $309.8 million in total assets.
SPECIALTY LENDING
We conduct our specialty lending businesses through indirect non-bank
subsidiaries and divisions of our banks.
Through First Insurance, our most significant specialized lending
niche, we make loans to businesses to finance the insurance premiums they pay on
their commercial insurance policies. The loans are originated by First Insurance
Funding working through independent medium and large insurance agents and
brokers located throughout the nation. The insurance premiums we finance are
primarily for commercial customers' purchases of liability, property and
casualty and other commercial insurance. This lending involves relatively rapid
turnover of the loan portfolio and high volume of loan originations. Because of
the indirect nature of this lending and because the borrowers are located
nationwide, this segment may be more susceptible to third party fraud. The
majority of these loans are purchased by our banks in order to more fully
utilize their lending capacity. These loans generally provide the banks higher
yields than alternative investments. Since the second quarter of 1999, we have
also been selling some of the loan originations to an unrelated third party with
servicing retained. First Insurance originated $1.1 billion in loan (premium
finance receivables) volume in the first six months of 2003 compared to $837.4
million in the first six months of 2002.
Through Tricom, Inc. we provide high-yielding, short-term accounts
receivable financing and value-added, outsourced administrative services, such
as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services, to the
temporary staffing industry. Tricom's clients, located throughout the United
States, provide staffing services to businesses in diversified industries.
During the first six months of 2003, Tricom processed payrolls with associated
client billings of approximately $142.2 million compared to $108.3 million
during the first six months of 2002.
We engage in other specialty lending through divisions of our banks,
including indirect auto lending which we conduct through a division of Hinsdale
Bank, medical and municipal equipment leasing, small aircraft lending, mortgage
broker warehouse lending and loans to condominium, homeowner and community
associations. These other specialty loans and leases together comprised
3
approximately 11% of our loan and lease portfolio at June 30, 2003. The indirect
automobile loans are diversified among many individual borrowers, secured by new
and used automobiles and are generated by a network of automobile dealers
located in the Chicago area with which we have established relationships. Like
other consumer loans, the indirect auto loans are subject to the banks'
established credit standards. We regard substantially all of these loans as
prime quality loans. Management continually monitors the dealer relationships to
deter third party fraud, and the banks are not dependent on any one dealer as a
source of such loans. At June 30, 2003, we had $167.2 million of indirect auto
loans which comprised approximately 6% of our loan portfolio. Management is not
pursuing growth in this segment and anticipates that this portfolio will
comprise a smaller portion of the net loan portfolio in the future.
OPERATIONAL STRATEGY
Since our first bank was opened in 1991, we have been committed to the
same fundamental operational strategy, the key elements of which include the
following:
o MAINTAINING DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY LOCALLY WITHIN EACH OF
OUR OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES AND PROVIDING A HIGH LEVEL OF
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. Our community banking
philosophy is driven by our emphasis on local independence and
decision-making authority within each of our banks. While
senior management of Wintrust provides expertise to each of
our subsidiaries in the areas of capital planning, long-term
strategic planning, marketing and advertising, financial
management, investment and asset/liability management, and
technology, the separate management teams of each of the
banks, as well as First Insurance, Wayne Hummer Trust Company,
Tricom and the Wayne Hummer Companies have full managerial
responsibilities for customer service and the ongoing
day-to-day operations of their respective organizations,
subject to the oversight of our Board of Directors and the
boards of our subsidiaries. Our operating subsidiaries enjoy
the competitive advantages of being able to tailor products
and services to meet the differing needs of the customers that
they serve, to quickly make decisions affecting customers, and
to participate actively in their communities.
o EMPLOYING FEWER, BUT HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND PRODUCTIVE
INDIVIDUALS AT RELATIVELY HIGH COMPENSATION RATES AND FOCUSING
ON LOW NET OVERHEAD RATIOS. Key to our growth and
profitability is our management's extensive experience in
providing community banking and financial services, and
retaining highly qualified managers is critical to our
strategy. Our banks' presidents and chief executive officers
were selected not only for their years of banking experience
but also for their business development skills and their
strong ties to the communities they serve. Our practice of
employing fewer, but highly qualified and productive
individuals at all levels of the organization is key to
maintaining a decentralized management structure. Although our
management compensation levels may be relatively high, we
believe our organizational structure allows us to continue to
improve and maintain favorable net overhead ratios as the
banks, First Insurance, Wayne Hummer Trust Company and Tricom
mature.
o MARKETING INNOVATIVE DEPOSIT AND LOAN PRODUCTS. Our banks
offer local residents competitive retail products designed to
attract customers and to provide the banks with the
opportunity to introduce and cross-sell their full range of
personalized banking services. Each of our banks has developed
a strong customer base within its communities through the
utilization of creative community-oriented marketing programs.
Our banks market their products aggressively through newspaper
and other advertising, special promotions and frequently
sponsored community events. While competitive pricing may
create pressure on
4
our net interest margin at times, to be more responsive to the
needs of consumers in their specific markets, the banks have
also introduced a variety of deposit and loan products to
appeal to the unique needs of different types of bank
customers, such as different age groups and other special
segments of the target markets. In addition, each of our banks
has a large board of directors comprised of experienced
business persons and other individuals prominent within their
respective communities who assist the banking officers with
business development.
o PURSUING A NUMBER OF SPECIALTY LENDING NICHES. We currently
finance loans in several different specialty lending niches to
more fully utilize our lending capacity, to diversify our loan
portfolio, and to enhance the profitability of our banks. In
8 addition to premium finance loans originated by First
Insurance, short-term accounts receivables financed by Tricom,
and indirect auto loans, we also engage in mortgage warehouse
lending, medical and municipal equipment leasing, homeowners
and condominium association lending and small aircraft
lending. Loans in our specialty lending niches tend to be
higher yielding than other commercial and consumer loans in
our banks' portfolios, but may involve greater credit risks
than generally associated with loan portfolios of more
traditional community banks due to marketability of the
collateral or because we do not have direct customer
relationships with the underlying borrowers.
o FOCUS ON GENERATING FEE INCOME TO AUGMENT NET INTEREST INCOME.
During 2002 and the first half of 2003, we generated fee
income from a variety of sources including the origination and
sale of mortgage loans, account service charges, trust, asset
management and brokerage fees, premium income from selling
covered call options on fixed income securities we own, as
well as gains on sales of premium finance receivables and
securities. In addition, we earn administrative fees at Tricom
related to its payroll processing business. Non-interest
income as a percentage of total revenue increased to 38% for
the year ended December 31, 2002, from 28% in 2001 and was 40%
for the first six months of 2003.
GROWTH STRATEGY
Key elements of our growth strategy include the following:
o INTERNAL GROWTH OF OUR EXISTING BANKS. Due to our de novo
strategy, we believe we have not yet realized the full deposit
and asset generation potential in the communities now served
by our existing banking facilities. We believe we can leverage
our existing infrastructure to support additional business
while maintaining a high level of personalized customer
service and responsiveness. As consolidation and the trend
toward nationwide franchises continue in the financial
services industry, management expects that more individuals
and small businesses will become disenchanted with the
perceived lower level of service offered by the larger
institutions, providing continuing market share opportunity
for us. We may from time to time compete for deposits,
particularly in our newer markets, with aggressive pricing,
which may reduce our net interest margin. With management's
focus on balancing further asset growth with earnings growth,
our current strategy is to continue less aggressive deposit
pricing at those banks with significant market share and more
established customer bases.
o EXPANDING INTO ATTRACTIVE MARKETS WITH LIMITED LOCAL BANKING
COMPETITION. We plan to continue our geographic expansion by
leveraging our existing banks and opening new branch
facilities in nearby communities where management believes
targeted customers would be attracted to a community banking
alternative. We have plans to add four to five new branches of
existing banks over the next 12 months. We also intend to
continue the formation of additional de novo banks in
attractive markets in and around the Chicago
5
metropolitan area. We are currently organizing our eighth de
novo bank in Beverly, a residential neighborhood on the
southwest side of Chicago, which we expect to open during
2003. We will continue to be impacted by start-up costs
related to this bank, as well as additional de novo bank and
branch formations that we expect to undertake in the future.
In addition, part of our strategy is to pursue potential
acquisitions of other community-oriented banks that are
already operating in desirable markets in the greater Chicago
metropolitan area. We recently announced the signing of
definitive agreements to acquire two banks, both relatively
newly formed, with banking locations in four communities in
northwest suburban Chicago that we do not now serve. See
"Recent Developments." In pursuing acquisitions, we face
potential competition from other bidders, and we have not
always been successful in acquiring other banks due to seller
price expectations or other factors. These and other
acquisitions, if any, could have a short-term dilutive effect
on earnings per share although the two pending acquisitions
are not expected to have any material impact on 2003 or 2004
earnings per share.
o AUGMENTING THE LOAN PORTFOLIO WITH OUR SPECIALTY LENDING
NICHES TO ALLOW THE BANKS TO MORE FULLY UTILIZE THEIR LENDING
CAPACITY AND ADDING RELATED FINANCIAL SERVICES BUSINESSES TO
INCREASE FEE INCOME. Our specialty lending niches have
enhanced the profitability of our community banks by
optimizing their earning asset base and allowing them to
diversify their loan portfolios. We plan to continue to build
our sales staff at First Insurance to further increase loan
volume in our premium finance business, seeking to increase
our market penetration in selected geographic markets. Certain
of our related financial services businesses also contribute
to higher fee income, such as administrative service fees
earned by Tricom for payroll processing. We may pursue
acquisitions or development of additional specialty lending
businesses engaged in asset generation suitable for bank
investment and/or secondary market sales. We may also pursue
acquisitions or development of related financial services
businesses to augment fee income. Management intends to
continue to explore various commercial and consumer finance
activities and to seek attractive potential acquisition
candidates. Acquisitions, if any, could have a short-term
dilutive effect on earnings per share.
o GROWTH OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT SERVICES PROVIDED TO SMALL AND
MID-SIZED BUSINESSES AND AFFLUENT INDIVIDUALS. Our
acquisitions of the Wayne Hummer Companies in 2002 and Lake
Forest Capital Management Company in February 2003
significantly expanded our wealth management customer base and
have enabled us to diversify our revenue stream. As part of
our strategy to build and grow our wealth management business,
we are continuing to recruit talented brokers, cross-market
our expanded base of brokerage and investment management
products and services to our banking clients while offering
trust services and estate planning products, as well as
traditional banking services, to wealth management customers.
We are also exploring potential opportunities to offer our
insured bank deposit program to other financial services
firms. In April 2003, we hired Thomas M. McDonald, with more
than 30 years of experience in the investment services
industry, as the new president and chief executive officer of
Wayne Hummer Investments to further enhance the leadership of
this segment of our business.
OFFICE LOCATION
Our principal executive offices are located at 727 North Bank Lane,
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-1951, and our telephone number is (847) 615-4096.
6
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
We recently announced two planned acquisitions of community-oriented
banks. We believe that together the acquisitions provide an attractive
opportunity to expand into the northwest Chicago metropolitan area, in suburban
markets we consider desirable. Both transactions are subject to approval by
regulators, approval by the target company's shareholders and other closing
conditions. We currently expect to close these transactions in the fourth
quarter of 2003. We do not expect these transactions to have a material impact
on our 2003 or 2004 earnings per share or our regulatory capital ratios.
On July 2, 2003, we announced the signing of a definitive agreement to
acquire Advantage National Bancorp, Inc., the parent company of Advantage
National Bank, in a stock merger transaction, with an aggregate purchase price
of approximately $24.4 million, assuming all Advantage warrants are exercised.
The number of shares to be issued in the merger will be determined at closing
based on a floating exchange ratio. Depending on the average price of our common
stock at the closing of the merger, we may issue up to 1,049,304 shares of our
stock in the merger. Advantage National Bank, a de novo bank that began
operations in January 2001, has one location in Elk Grove Village and one
location in Roselle, Illinois, both northwest suburbs of Chicago. Advantage had
total assets of approximately $107 million at June 30, 2003.
On August 7, 2003, we announced the signing of a definitive agreement
to acquire Village Bancorp, Inc. in a stock merger transaction, with an
aggregate purchase price of approximately $9.0 million. The number of shares to
be issued in the merger will be determined at closing based on a floating
exchange ratio. Depending on the average price of our common stock at the
closing of the merger, we may issue up to 360,000 shares of our stock in the
merger. Village is the parent company of Village Bank and Trust-Arlington
Heights that has one location in each of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights,
Illinois. Village Bank began operations as a de novo bank in 1995. Village had
total assets of approximately $74 million as of June 30, 2003.
7
THE OFFERING
Common stock offered....................................... 1,197,486 shares
Offering price per share................................... $35.80
Common stock to be outstanding
after the offering...................................... 18,669,522 shares(1)
Use of proceeds............................................ We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering
to increase the capital at our banks to pursue
growth opportunities and for general corporate
purposes.
Risk Factors............................................... See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 13 and other
information included in this prospectus for a
discussion of factors you should consider carefully
before deciding to invest in our common stock.
Nasdaq National Market symbol.............................. WTFC
--------------------
(1) The number of shares shown to be outstanding after the offering is
based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of
August 29, 2003, and does not include 4,131,501 shares reserved for
issuance under our stock incentive plan and other compensation plans or
upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, or up to a maximum of
approximately 1.4 million shares that we expect to issue in connection
with our two pending acquisitions. As of August 29, 2003, we had
outstanding options and restricted stock unit awards relating to
2,865,543 shares and warrants to purchase 262,248 shares of our common
stock.
8
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The summary consolidated financial data presented below as of or for
each of the years in the five-year period ended December 31, 2002, are derived
from our audited historical financial statements. The summary data presented
below as of or for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, are
derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, all
adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a
fair statement of results as of or for the six-month periods have been included.
Per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split effected
as a stock dividend effective as of March 14, 2002. This information should be
read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements
and the notes thereto incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, and our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003. Results for
past periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for
any future period, and results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2003 are
not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year
ending December 31, 2003.
SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
2003(1) 2002(2) 2002(2) 2001 2000 1999 1998
------- ------- ------- ---- ---- ---- ----
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
STATEMENT OF INCOME
DATA:
Total interest income.. $ 96,504 $ 86,509 $ 182,233 $ 166,455 $ 148,184 $ 109,331 $ 87,979
Total interest expense. 41,572 39,924 84,105 92,441 87,184 61,597 51,215
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net interest income. 54,932 46,585 98,128 74,014 61,000 47,734 36,764
Provision for loan
losses.............. 5,493 4,831 10,321 7,900 5,055 3,713 4,297
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net interest income
after provision
for loan losses.. 49,439 41,754 87,807 66,114 55,945 44,021 32,467
Non-interest Income:
Gain on sale of
premium finance
receivables...... 2,270 1,594 3,374 4,564 3,831 1,033 --
Fees on mortgage
loans sold....... 9,142 3,951 12,259 7,831 2,911 3,206 5,569
Wealth management
fees............. 12,953 12,001 25,229 1,996 1,971 1,171 788
Service charges on
deposit accounts. 1,722 1,491 3,121 2,504 1,936 1,562 1,065
Administrative
services revenues 2,159 1,753 3,501 4,084 4,402 996 --
Premium finance
defalcation-partial
settlement(3).... -- 1,250 1,250 -- -- -- --
Securities (losses)
gains, net....... 606 (153) 107 337 (40) 5 --
Other............... 7,996 4,636 11,831 7,482 3,295 1,835 653
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total
non-interest
income......... 36,848 26,523 60,672 28,798 18,306 9,808 8,075
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(See footnotes on page 11)
9
SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
2003(1) 2002(2) 2002(2) 2001 2000 1999 1998
------- ------- ------- ---- ---- ---- ----
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Non-interest Expense:
Salaries and
employee benefits $ 35,715 $ 28,762 $ 63,442 $ 35,628 $ 28,119 $ 20,808 $ 18,944
Equipment expense... 3,758 3,526 7,191 6,297 5,101 3,199 2,221
Occupancy expense,
net.............. 3,785 3,153 6,691 4,821 4,252 2,991 2,435
Data processing..... 2,079 2,056 4,161 3,393 2,837 2,169 1,676
Advertising and
marketing........ 1,043 1,057 2,302 1,604 1,309 1,402 1,612
Professional fees... 1,704 1,296 2,801 2,055 1,681 1,203 1,654
Amortization of
intangibles...... 298 117 324 685 713 251 120
Premium finance
defalcation(3)... -- -- -- -- 4,320 -- --
Other non-interest
expenses......... 11,038 8,618 19,072 11,300 9,471 7,655 7,171
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total
non-interest
expense........ 59,420 48,585 105,984 65,783 57,803 39,678 35,833
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before taxes
and cumulative
effect of
accounting change... 26,867 19,692 42,495 29,129 16,448 14,151 4,709
Income tax expense
(benefit)........... 9,585 7,023 14,620 10,436 5,293 4,724 (1,536)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before
cumulative effect
of accounting change 17,282 12,669 27,875 18,693 11,155 9,427 6,245
Cumulative effect of
change in
accounting for
derivatives, net of
tax................. -- -- -- (254) -- -- --
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income.......... $ 17,282 $ 12,669 $ 27,875 $ 18,439 $ 11,155 $ 9,427 $ 6,245
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
COMMON SHARE DATA:
Earnings per share:
Basic............... $ 1.00 $ 0.82 $ 1.71 $ 1.34 $ 0.85 $ 0.76 $ 0.51
Diluted............. 0.94 0.77 1.60 1.27 0.83 0.73 0.49
Cash dividends per
common share(4)..... 0.08 0.06 0.12 0.093 0.067 -- --
Book value per share... 14.31 12.15 13.19 9.72 7.92 7.06 6.15
Weighted average
common shares
outstanding:
Basic............... 17,360 15,513 16,334 13,734 13,066 12,373 12,212
Diluted............. 18,473 16,526 17,445 14,545 13,411 12,837 12,742
SELECTED FINANCIAL
CONDITION DATA (AT
END OF PERIOD):
Total assets........... $4,132,394 $3,219,400 $3,721,555 $2,705,422 $2,102,806 $1,679,382 $1,348,048
Loans.................. 2,896,148 2,308,945 2,556,086 2,018,479 1,547,596 1,270,126 974,031
Mortgage loans held-
for-sale........... 84,643 27,735 90,446 42,904 10,424 8,123 18,031
Total deposits......... 3,419,946 2,608,507 3,089,124 2,314,636 1,826,576 1,463,622 1,229,154
Notes payable.......... 26,000 58,650 44,025 46,575 27,575 8,350 --
Subordinated notes..... 50,000 -- 25,000 -- -- -- --
Long term debt - trust
preferred securities 76,816 51,050 50,894 51,050 51,050 31,050 31,050
Total shareholders'
equity.............. 249,399 205,999 227,002 141,278 102,276 92,947 75,205
(See footnotes on following page)
10
SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
2003(1) 2002(2) 2002(2) 2001 2000 1999 1998
------- ------- ------- ---- ---- ---- ----
SELECTED FINANCIAL
RATIOS AND OTHER
DATA:
Performance Ratios:
Net interest
margin(5)(6)(7).. 3.14% 3.52% 3.34% 3.49% 3.66% 3.54% 3.43%
Net interest
spread(5)(8)(9).. 2.92 3.22 3.06 3.08 3.29 3.23 3.00
Non-interest income
to average
assets(5)........ 1.92 1.85 1.89 1.24 0.99 0.66 0.69
Non-interest
expense to
average
assets(3)(5)..... 3.10 3.38 3.30 2.83 3.12 2.65 3.04
Net overhead
ratio(3)(5)(10).. 1.18 1.54 1.41 1.59 2.13 2.00 2.36
Efficiency
ratio(3)(11)(7).. 64.86 65.96 66.41 63.66 72.33 68.63 79.75
Return on average
assets(3)(5)..... 0.90 0.88 0.87 0.79 0.60 0.63 0.53
Return on average
equity(3)(5)..... 14.74 15.85 14.76 15.24 11.51 11.58 8.68
Average
loan-to-average
deposit ratio.... 86.1 90.4 88.5 87.4 87.7 86.6 80.1
Dividend payout
ratio(4)(5)...... 8.5 7.7 7.5 7.4 8.0 -- --
Asset Quality Ratios:
Non-performing
loans to total
loans............ 0.47% 0.48% 0.49% 0.64% 0.63% 0.55% 0.56%
Allowance for loan
losses to:
Total loans...... 0.74 0.69 0.72 0.68 0.67 0.69 0.72
Non-performing
loans.......... 156.42 143.39 146.63 105.63 107.75 126.10 129.66
Net charge-offs to
average
loans(3)(5)...... 0.19 0.23 0.24 0.26 0.24 0.19 0.28
Non-performing
assets to total
assets........... 0.35 0.37 0.34 0.48 0.46 0.41 0.45
Other data at end of
period:
Number of banking
facilities....... 32 31 31 29 28 24 21
---------------------
(1) We completed our acquisition of Lake Forest Capital Management Company
on February 1, 2003. The results for the six months ended June 30, 2003
include the results of Lake Forest Capital Management Company since
that date.
(2) We completed our acquisition of the Wayne Hummer Companies effective as
of February 1, 2002. The results for the six months ended June 30, 2002
and year ended December 31, 2002 include the results of the Wayne
Hummer Companies since February 1, 2002.
(3) In 2000, we recorded a $4.3 million pre-tax charge ($2.6 million
after-tax) related to a fraudulent loan scheme perpetrated against our
premium finance subsidiary. The amount of this charge was not included
in loans charged-off because a lending relationship had never been
established. In the first quarter of 2002, we recovered $1.25 million
(pre-tax) of this amount ($754,000 after-tax).
(4) We declared our first semi-annual dividend payment in January 2000.
Dividend data reflected for the interim periods reflect semi-annual,
not quarterly, dividends.
(5) Certain financial ratios for interim periods have been annualized.
(6) Net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average
interest-earning assets.
(7) See "Supplemental Financial Measures/Ratios" on page 12 for a
reconciliation of net interest income to net interest income on a tax
equivalent basis.
(8) Calculated on a tax-equivalent basis.
(9) Yield earned on average interest-earning assets less rate paid on
average interest-bearing liabilities.
(10) Non-interest expense less non-interest income divided by average total
assets.
(11) Non-interest expense (excluding non-recurring items) divided by the sum
of net interest income on a tax equivalent basis plus non-interest
income (excluding securities gains and losses).
11
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL MEASURES/RATIOS
Certain non-GAAP performance measures and ratios are used by management
to evaluate and measure our performance. These include taxable-equivalent net
interest income (including its individual components), net interest margin
(including its individual components), and the efficiency ratio. Management
believes that these measures and ratios provide users of our financial
information a more accurate view of the performance of the interest-earning
assets and interest-bearing liabilities and of our operating efficiency for
comparative purposes than the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Other
financial holding companies may define or calculate these measures and ratios
differently. See the table below for supplemental data and the corresponding
reconciliation to GAAP financial measures for the six months ended June 30, 2003
and 2002, and for the years ended December 31, 1998 through 2002.
Management reviews yields on certain asset categories and the net
interest margin of the company, and our banking subsidiaries, on a fully
taxable-equivalent basis or "FTE." In this non-GAAP presentation, net interest
income is adjusted to reflect tax-exempt interest income on an equivalent
before-tax basis. This measure ensures comparability of net interest income
arising from both taxable and tax-exempt sources. Net interest income on a
taxable-equivalent basis is also used in the calculation of our efficiency
ratio. The efficiency ratio, which is calculated by dividing non-interest
expense by total taxable-equivalent net revenue (less securities gains or
losses), measures how much it costs to produce one dollar of revenue. Securities
gains or losses are excluded from this calculation to better match revenue from
daily operations to operational expenses.
The following table reconciles the GAAP calculations to the financial
measures and ratios used by management as discussed above.
SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
2003 2002 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(IN THOUSANDS)
(A) INTEREST INCOME
(GAAP)............... $96,504 $86,509 $182,233 $166,455 $148,184 $109,331 $87,979
FTEA - Loans(1)...... 265 356 685 793 518 259 95
FTEA - Liquidity
management
assets(1)......... 134 43 209 65 48 15 --
FTEA - Other earning
assets(1)......... 39 -- -- -- -- -- --
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Interest income - FTE 96,942 86,908 183,127 167,313 148,750 109,605 88,074
(B) INTEREST EXPENSE
(GAAP)............... 41,572 39,924 84,105 92,441 87,184 61,597 51,215
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Net interest
income - FTE...... $55,370 $46,984 $99,022 $74,872 $61,566 $48,008 $36,859
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------
(C) NET INTEREST INCOME
(GAAP) (A MINUS B)... $54,932 $46,585 $98,128 $74,014 $61,000 $47,734 $36,764
(D) NET INTEREST MARGIN
(GAAP)............... 3.12% 3.49% 3.31% 3.45% 3.63% 3.52% 3.42%
Net interest
margin - FTE...... 3.14 3.52 3.34 3.49 3.66 3.54 3.43
(E) EFFICIENCY RATIO
(GAAP)............... 65.17 66.32 66.79 64.19 72.85 68.96 79.91
Efficiency ratio -
FTE............... 64.86 65.96 66.41 63.66 72.33 68.63 79.75
---------------------
(1) FTEA = Fully taxable-equivalent adjustment based on an assumed marginal
federal tax rate of 35%.
12
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the following risk factors before you
decide to buy our common stock. You should also consider the other information
in this prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in this
prospectus.
DE NOVO OPERATIONS AND BRANCH OPENINGS IMPACT OUR PROFITABILITY.
Our financial results have been and will continue to be impacted by our
strategy of de novo bank formations and branch openings. We have employed this
strategy to build an infrastructure that management believes can support
additional internal growth in our banks' respective markets. We expect to open
our eighth de novo bank in late 2003, and expect to undertake additional de novo
bank formations or branch openings as we expand into additional communities in
and around Chicago. In addition, our pending acquisitions involve relatively
recently formed de novo banks. Based on our experience, management believes that
it generally takes from 13 to 24 months for new banks to first achieve
operational profitability, depending on the number of branch facilities opened,
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.
However, it may take longer than expected or than the amount of time we have
historically experienced for new banks and/or branch facilities to reach
profitability, and there can be no guarantee that these new banks or branches
will ever be profitable. To the extent we undertake additional de novo bank,
branch and business formations, our level of reported net income, return on
average equity and return on average assets will be impacted by start-up costs
associated with such operations, and we are likely to continue to experience the
effects of higher expenses relative to operating income from the new operations.
These expenses may be higher than we expected or than our experience has shown.
WE COULD ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES OR UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS RELATED TO OUR
PENDING ACQUISITIONS.
The two merger transactions that we have pending are our first bank
acquisitions. Both of these banks operate in markets we have not previously
served. While we currently expect to close both the Advantage and the Village
transactions in the fourth quarter of 2003, subject to receipt of required
regulatory and shareholder approvals, we may not be successful in completing the
acquisitions as planned if, for example, all of the closing conditions are not
met. If we do complete the acquisitions, we may be adversely impacted if we have
difficulty integrating these banks into our organization or if the composition
or quality of the banks' assets or liabilities that we acquire differ
significantly from our expectations. In addition, our net income and earnings
per share could be adversely impacted if we incur greater than anticipated costs
associated with operating these banks, if we have difficulty retaining key
personnel at the banks, or if we are unable to grow the businesses of the banks
as contemplated.
WE DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN KEY PERSONNEL; WE RELY HEAVILY ON
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND THE UNEXPECTED LOSS OF KEY MANAGERS MAY ADVERSELY
AFFECT OUR OPERATIONS.
Our success to date has been influenced strongly by our ability to
attract and to retain senior management experienced in banking and financial
services. Retention of senior managers and appropriate succession planning will
continue to be critical to the successful implementation of our strategies. We
have entered into 64 employment contracts with our executive officers, and
certain senior officers who we consider to be key employees. It is also
important as we grow to be able to attract and retain additional qualified
senior and middle management. We do not currently maintain key-man life
insurance policies; however, we do maintain bank-owned life insurance policies
on most of our executive officers to offset liabilities under employment
contracts. 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 our business and financial results.
13
OUR ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES MAY PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO ABSORB LOSSES THAT
MAY OCCUR IN OUR LOAN PORTFOLIO.
Our allowance for loan losses is established in consultation with
management of our operating subsidiaries and is maintained at a level considered
adequate by management to absorb loan losses that are inherent in the
portfolios. At June 30, 2003, our allowance for loan losses was 156.42% of total
non-performing loans and 0.74% of total loans. The amount of future losses is
susceptible to changes in economic, operating and other conditions, including
changes in interest rates, that may be beyond our 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 newer 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 loan losses is adequate to absorb losses that may develop in our
existing portfolios of loans and leases, there can be no assurance that the
allowance will prove sufficient to cover actual loan or lease losses in the
future.
OUR PREMIUM FINANCE BUSINESS INVOLVES UNIQUE OPERATIONAL RISKS AND COULD EXPOSE
US TO SIGNIFICANT LOSSES.
Of our total loans at June 30, 2003, 22%, or $625.8 million, were
comprised of commercial insurance premium finance receivables that we generated
through First Insurance. These loans, intended to enhance the average yield of
earning assets of our banks, involve a different, and possibly higher, level of
risk of delinquency or collection than generally associated with loan portfolios
of more traditional community banks. First Insurance also faces unique
operational and internal control challenges due to the relatively rapid turnover
of the premium finance loan portfolio and high volume of new loan originations.
The average term to maturity of these loans is less than 12 months, and the
average loan size when originated is approximately $30,000.
Because we conduct lending in this segment primarily through
relationships with a large number of unaffiliated insurance agents and because
the borrowers are located nationwide, risk management and general supervisory
oversight may be more difficult than in our banks. We may also be more
susceptible to third party fraud. Acts of fraud are difficult to detect and
deter, and we cannot assure investors that our risk management procedures and
controls will prevent losses from fraudulent activity. For example, in the third
quarter of 2000, we recorded a non-recurring after-tax charge of $2.6 million in
connection with a series of fraudulent loan transactions perpetrated against
First Insurance by one independent insurance agency located in Florida. Although
we have since enhanced our internal controls system at First Insurance, we may
continue to be exposed to the risk of significant loss in our premium finance
business.
Due to continued growth in origination volume of premium finance
receivables, since the second quarter of 1999, we have been selling some of the
loans First Insurance originates to an unrelated third party. We have recognized
gains on the sales of the receivables, and the proceeds of sales have provided
us with additional liquidity. Consistent with our strategy to be asset driven,
we expect to pursue similar sales of premium finance receivables in the future;
however, we cannot assure you that there will continue to be a market for the
sale of these loans and the extent of our future sales of these loans will
depend on the level of new volume growth in relation to our capacity to retain
the loans within our subsidiary banks' loan portfolios. Because we have a
recourse obligation to the purchaser of premium finance loans that we sell, we
could incur losses in connection with the loans sold if collections on the
underlying loans prove to be insufficient to repay to the purchaser the
principal amount of the loans sold plus interest at the negotiated buy-rate and
if the collection shortfall on the loans sold exceeds our estimate of losses at
the time of sale.
14
OUR STRATEGY OF PURSUING SPECIALTY LENDING NICHES MAY EXPOSE US TO CREDIT RISKS
THAT ARE UNIQUE FOR A COMMUNITY BANKING ORGANIZATION OF OUR SIZE.
At June 30, 2003, approximately 33% of our total loan portfolio
consisted of loans we make in what we consider to be specialty lending niches.
In addition to our premium finance loans, we engage in indirect auto lending,
accounts receivable financing, mortgage broker warehouse lending, loans to
condominium, homeowner and community associations, and to a much lesser extent,
medical and municipal equipment leasing and small aircraft lending.
Our portfolio of automobile loans are originated indirectly through
unaffiliated automobile dealers located throughout the Chicago metropolitan
area. At June 30, 2003, our indirect auto loans were $167.2 million and
comprised approximately 6% of our loan portfolio. Because we are lending through
third-party originators, our indirect auto portfolio may be relatively riskier
than direct consumer lending. Also, because the indirect auto loan industry is
highly competitive, the cost of collection and repossession of the underlying
collateral may significantly reduce the profitability of this portfolio,
particularly in a recessionary environment.
Through Tricom we finance payrolls of companies engaged in the
temporary staffing business. At June 30, 2003, these finance receivables totaled
$24.1 million and represented approximately 1% of our loan portfolio. The
principal source of repayments on the loans we make in this niche are payments
to our borrowers from their customers who are located throughout the United
States. While we employ lockboxes and other cash management techniques to
protect our interests, to the extent third parties fail to pay or fraudulently
engage in the conversion of funds through misuse or nonuse of the lockbox or the
creation of ghost payrolls, we may suffer losses.
Our lease financing niche may involve a higher degree of credit risk
than mortgage or consumer lending due primarily to the potential for relatively
rapid depreciation of medical equipment and other assets securing leases.
Similarly, in the event of a default of loans originated in our aircraft lending
program, the marketability of the collateral may make it more difficult to
convert this collateral to cash, especially in an adverse economic environment.
In our condominium and homeowner association lending niche, we may face
difficulties in securing repayment from our association borrowers to the extent
they are unable to collect assessments from their members, and we may suffer
losses if we are unable to enforce liens against homeowner properties.
OUR WEALTH MANAGEMENT BUSINESSES ARE VULNERABLE TO FLUCTUATIONS IN THE TRADING
VOLUME AND PRICE LEVELS OF SECURITIES; WE FACE STRONG COMPETITION FOR NEW
BROKERS WE SEEK TO HIRE.
The success of the strategy we are pursuing to grow our wealth
management business is largely dependent on our ability to identify, hire and
retain talented securities brokers with investment services experience. We face
strong competition for qualified brokers, and many potential candidates are
subject to restrictive covenants with existing employers. If we are unable to
significantly increase the size of our investment services sales force as
planned, we may have difficulty attracting new accounts and increasing assets
under management and may be unable to improve the profitability of this segment
of our business.
The results of our wealth management subsidiaries depend heavily on
conditions in the financial markets and on economic conditions generally, both
domestically and abroad. Because currently a significant portion of our revenue
in these businesses is derived from commissions, margin interest revenue and
principal transactions, further declines in stock prices, trading volumes or
liquidity could result in the failure of buyers and sellers of securities to
fulfill their settlement obligations, and in the failure of our brokerage
clients to fulfill their credit obligations, which could adversely affect our
profitability.
15
WE MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY INTEREST RATE CHANGES.
Our 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 interest rates may
influence the growth rate of loans and deposits, the quality of the loan
portfolio and loan and deposit pricing. While we have 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. For example, due to historically low prevailing interest rates,
beginning in late 2001, we moved to an asset/liability position intended to
benefit us in a rising rate scenario. As interest rates declined further over
the last 18 months, we have suffered compression in our net interest margin as a
result of this strategy. However, the significant decline in interest rates to
historic lows has also led to significant increases in mortgage loan origination
volume since 2001. We recorded fees on mortgage loans sold of $9.1 million in
the first six months of 2003 and $12.3 million in 2002, compared to $7.8 million
in 2001. This source of non-interest income is likely to decline in periods of
rising interest rates.
The success of our covered call option program, which we have used in
effect to hedge our interest rate risk, may also be affected by changes in
interest rates. With the decline in interest rates over the last two years to
historically low levels, we have been able to augment the total return of our
investment securities portfolio by selling call options on fixed-income
securities we own. We recorded fee income of $6.0 million during 2002 compared
to $4.3 million in 2001, from premiums earned on these covered call option
transactions. During the first six months of 2003, we recorded fee income of
$4.8 million on these transactions. In a rising interest rate environment,
particularly if the yield curve remains steep, the amount of premium income we
earn on these transactions will likely decline. In addition, we have decreased
our covered call option activity as rates have increased recently. Our
opportunities to sell covered call options may be limited in the future if rates
continue to rise.
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 we encounter
strong direct competition for deposits, loans and other financial services in
all of our market areas. In recent years, several major bank holding companies
have entered or expanded in the Chicago metropolitan market, and are pursuing
aggressive branching initiatives in the area. Generally, these financial
institutions are significantly larger than we are and have greater access to
capital and other resources. 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.
OUR BUSINESS MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE HIGHLY REGULATED ENVIRONMENT IN
WHICH WE OPERATE.
We are subject to extensive federal and state legislation, regulation
and supervision. The burden of regulatory compliance has increased under current
legislation and banking regulations and is likely to continue to have or may
have a significant impact on the financial services industry. Recent legislative
and regulatory changes, as well as changes in regulatory enforcement policies
and capital adequacy guidelines, are increasing our costs of doing business and,
as a result, may create an advantage for our competitors who may not be subject
to similar legislative and regulatory requirements. In addition, future
regulatory changes, including changes to regulatory capital requirements, could
have an adverse impact on our future results. Self regulatory organizations,
such as the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities
Dealers, require our securities brokerage subsidiaries to comply with extensive
rules and regulations, and we could also be adversely affected by applicable
changes in these regulations.
16
SINCE OUR BUSINESS IS CONCENTRATED IN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA, A DOWNTURN
IN THE CHICAGO ECONOMY MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
Currently, our lending and deposit gathering activities are
concentrated primarily in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Our success
depends on the general economic condition of Chicago and its surrounding areas.
Declining economic conditions could reduce our growth rate, impair our ability
to collect loans, and generally affect our financial condition and results of
operations.
THERE IS FLUCTUATION IN THE TRADING MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK; YOU MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO RESELL YOUR SHARES AT OR ABOVE THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR THEM.
The price of our shares of common stock subject to this offering may be
greater than the market price for our common stock following the offering. The
price of our common stock has been, and will likely continue to be, subject to
fluctuations based on, among other things, economic and market conditions for
financial services companies and the stock market in general, as well as changes
in investor perceptions of our company.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "WTFC". The maintenance of an active public trading market depends,
however, upon the existence of willing buyers and sellers, the presence of which
is beyond our control or the control of any market maker, and there can be no
assurance that our shareholders will be able to sell their shares at or above
the offering price. A number of shares of our common stock are covered by resale
registration statements. We estimate that there are currently approximately
665,000 of those shares outstanding that have not yet been resold. These
remaining shares may be freely sold from time to time in the market. The market
price of our common stock could drop significantly if shareholders sell or are
perceived by the market as intending to sell large blocks of our shares. In
addition, we have plans to issue up to a maximum of approximately 1.4 million
additional shares of our common stock in two pending bank acquisitions expected
to close during the fourth quarter of 2003.
OUR SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AND PROVISIONS IN OUR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND
OUR BY-LAWS MAY DELAY OR PREVENT AN ACQUISITION OF US BY A THIRD PARTY.
Our board of directors has implemented a shareholder rights plan. The
rights, which are attached to our shares and trade together with our common
stock, have certain anti-takeover effects. The plan may discourage or make it
more difficult for another party to complete a merger or tender offer for our
shares without negotiating with our board of directors or to launch a proxy
contest or to acquire control of a larger block of our shares. If triggered, the
rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to
acquire us without approval of our board of directors, and under certain
circumstances, the rights beneficially owned by the person or group may become
void. The plan also may have the effect of limiting shareholder participation in
certain transactions such as mergers or tender offers whether or not such
transactions are favored by incumbent directors and key management. In addition,
our executive officers may be more likely to retain their positions with us as a
result of the plan, even if their removal would be beneficial to shareholders
generally.
Our articles of incorporation and our by-laws contain provisions,
including a staggered board provision, that make it more difficult for a third
party to gain control or acquire us without the consent of our board of
directors. These provisions also could discourage proxy contests and may make it
more difficult for dissident shareholders to elect representatives as directors
and take other corporate actions.
These provisions of our governing documents may have the effect of
delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that
might be in the best interest of our shareholders.
17
USE OF PROCEEDS
Our net proceeds from the sale of 1,197,486 shares of our common stock
in this offering will be approximately $40.1 million after deducting the
underwriting discount and aggregate offering expenses payable by us. The
offering expenses are estimated to be approximately $225,000. If the
underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full, the net proceeds will
be approximately $46.1 million.
We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to increase the
capital at our banks to pursue further growth and for general corporate
purposes.
18
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our total indebtedness and
capitalization at June 30, 2003, on an historical basis and as adjusted for the
offering (assuming no exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option) as if
such sale had been consummated on June 30, 2003. This data should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, and from our Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003.
JUNE 30, 2003
-------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
----------- -------------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
INDEBTEDNESS:
Other borrowings (including securities sold under agreements to repurchase,
federal funds purchased and Federal Home Loan Bank advances)................. $197,439 $197,439
Notes payable under revolving credit line with an unaffiliated commercial bank.. 26,000 26,000
Subordinated notes.............................................................. 50,000 50,000
Long-term debt--trust preferred securities(1).................................... 76,816 76,816
-------- --------
Total indebtedness........................................................... 350,255 350,255
-------- --------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock, no par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized, of which 100,000
shares are designated Junior Serial Preferred Stock A; no shares
issued and outstanding....................................................... -- --
Common stock, no par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 17,428,118 shares
issued and outstanding; 18,625,604 shares issued and outstanding
as adjusted(2)............................................................... 17,428 18,626
Surplus......................................................................... 158,597 197,482
Common stock warrants to acquire 263,886 shares(3).............................. 1,030 1,030
Retained earnings............................................................... 72,861 72,861
Accumulated other comprehensive loss............................................ (517) (517)
-------- --------
Total shareholders' equity................................................... 249,399 289,482
-------- --------
Total capitalization......................................................... $599,654 $639,737
======== ========
CAPITAL RATIOS:
Leverage ratio(4)............................................................... 7.5% 8.5%
Tier 1 capital ratio............................................................ 8.4 9.6
Total risk-based capital ratio.................................................. 10.5 11.6
---------------------
(1) Excludes $1.6 million of our long-term indebtedness related to the
common securities of the capital trust subsidiaries we formed prior to
2003. All of the common securities of these trust subsidiaries are held
by Wintrust and are also eliminated on our consolidated balance sheet.
Due to current interpretation of a recent change in required accounting
treatment, in future periods we expect to reflect the common securities
and the total amount of long-term debt on our balance sheet. This
change will have no effect on our net interest income.
(2) Does not include 2,913,775 shares subject to options and restricted
stock unit awards outstanding at June 30, 2003, with a weighted
average exercise price of $13.47.
(3) The warrants have a weighted average exercise price of $14.65
and expire between December 2003 and February 2013.
(4) The leverage ratio is Tier 1 capital divided by average quarterly
assets, after deducting intangible assets and net deferred tax assets
in excess of regulatory maximum limits.
19
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "WTFC". The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices
reported on the Nasdaq National Market for our common stock for the periods
indicated and the semi-annual dividends paid by us during such periods. The
following information gives effect to a 3-for-2 stock split effective as of
March 14, 2002.
HIGH LOW DIVIDEND
---- --- --------
2003
----
First Quarter........................ $33.65 $27.19 $0.0800
Second Quarter....................... 32.40 27.74 --
Third Quarter (through September 15). 36.18 29.30 $0.0800
2002
----
First Quarter........................ $22.99 $18.33 $0.0600
Second Quarter....................... 34.58 22.22 --
Third Quarter........................ 36.00 26.54 $0.0600
Fourth Quarter....................... 32.66 25.45 --
2001
----
First Quarter........................ $12.75 $10.54 $0.0467
Second Quarter....................... 17.62 11.67 --
Third Quarter........................ 21.41 16.27 $0.0467
Fourth Quarter....................... 22.13 17.93 --
As of September 12, 2003, there were approximately 1,195 shareholders
of record of our common stock.
COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND POLICY
In January 2000, our board of directors approved the payment of our
first semi-annual cash dividend on our common stock. We have continued to pay a
semi-annual cash dividend since that time. The final determination of timing,
amount and payment of dividends on our common stock is at the discretion of our
board of directors and will depend upon our profitability, financial condition,
capital requirements and other relevant factors, including the restrictions
described below. Although we have increased the dividend rate every year since
we initiated payment of dividends, as a growing company we expect to continue to
retain at least 90% of our earnings to fund future growth and to build our
franchise.
Because the principal source of our income at the holding company level
is dividends from our banks, our ability to pay dividends on common stock in the
future may be largely dependent on the banks' ability to pay dividends to us.
Any payment of dividends by the banks is subject to certain restrictions imposed
by federal and state banking laws and regulations. As a financial holding
company, our banks are now required to maintain capital sufficient to meet the
"well-capitalized" standards set by the regulators and will be able to pay
dividends to us only so long as their capital continues to exceed these levels.
Additionally, de novo banks are prohibited from paying dividends during the
first three years of operations.
Our ability to pay cash dividends on our common stock is also subject
to statutory restrictions and restrictions arising under the terms of our
outstanding and any future debt securities and trust preferred securities. The
terms of such securities generally restrict payment of dividends on common stock
until required payments and distributions are made on those securities and may
impose additional restrictions in the future. Under applicable corporate law, we
are permitted to pay dividends only to the extent of our shareholders' equity.
Federal regulation of bank holding companies may also impose restrictions on the
ability of a bank holding company to pay dividends.
20
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting
agreement, the underwriters named below have severally agreed to purchase from
us an aggregate of 1,197,486 shares of common stock in the amount set forth
opposite their respective names.
NUMBER
UNDERWRITERS OF SHARES
----------------------------------------------- ---------
RBC Dain Rauscher Inc.......................... 455,045
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc................. 263,447
Raymond James & Associates, Inc................ 179,623
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated....... 179,623
Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P................ 119,748
---------
Total....................................... 1,197,486
=========
The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters' obligations
are subject to specified conditions precedent and that the underwriters are
committed to purchase all of the shares of our common stock offered hereby if
the underwriters purchase any of such shares of common stock.
The underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the shares
of common stock to the public at the public offering price set forth on the
cover page of this prospectus and to selected dealers at such price less a
concession not in excess of $1.28 per share. The underwriters may allow and such
dealers may reallow a discount not in excess of $0.10 per share to certain other
brokers and dealers. After the offering, the public offering price, concession,
discount and other selling terms may be changed by the underwriters.
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days
after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 179,622 additional shares
of our common stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any, at the same price
per share to be paid by the underwriters for the other shares of common stock
offered hereby.
The underwriters' commissions are shown in the following table. These
amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the
underwriters' option to purchase additional shares of common stock.
FULL
NO EXERCISE EXERCISE
----------- --------
Per share........................ $ 2.14 $ 2.14
Total............................ $2,562,620 $2,947,011
In connection with the offering of the shares of our common stock, the
underwriters and any selling group members and their respective affiliates may
engage in transactions effected in accordance with Rule 104 of Regulation M
promulgated by the SEC that are intended to stabilize, maintain or otherwise
affect the market price of the shares of our common stock. Such transactions may
include over-allotment transactions in which an underwriter creates a short
position for its own account by selling more shares of our common stock than it
is committed to purchase from us. In such a case, to cover all or part of the
short position, the underwriters may purchase shares of our common stock in the
open market following completion of the initial offering of the shares of our
common stock. The underwriters also may engage in stabilizing transactions in
which they bid for, and purchase, shares of our common stock at a level above
that which might otherwise prevail in the open market for the purpose of
preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the shares of our
common stock. The underwriters may also reclaim any selling concession allowed
to a dealer if the underwriters repurchase shares distributed by that dealer.
Any of the foregoing transactions may result in the maintenance of a price for
the shares of
21
our common stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open
market. Neither we nor the underwriters makes any representation or prediction
as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described
above may have on the price of the shares of our common stock. The underwriters
are not required to engage in any of the foregoing transactions and, if
commenced, such transactions may be discontinued at any time without notice.
These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq National Market, in the
over-the-counter market or otherwise.
In connection with this offering, some underwriters may also engage in
passive market making transactions in our common stock on the Nasdaq National
Market. Passive market making consists of displaying bids on the Nasdaq National
Market limited by the prices of independent market makers and effecting
purchases limited by those prices in response to order flow. Rule 103 of
Regulation M promulgated by the SEC limits the amount of net purchases that each
passive market maker may make and the displayed size of each bid. Passive market
making may stabilize the market price of our common stock at a level above that
which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be
discontinued at any time.
We agreed to indemnify the underwriters and their controlling persons
against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in
respect thereof.
We and our executive officers and directors have agreed that, except as
described in this prospectus, for a period of 90 days after the date of this
prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of RBC Dain
Rauscher Inc. on behalf of the underwriters, directly or indirectly, (1) offer,
pledge (except for pledges granted prior to the date of this prospectus), sell,
contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option
or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or
otherwise transfer or dispose of (subject to some exceptions) any shares of our
common stock, or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable
for, our common stock or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that
transfers, in whole or in part, any economic equivalent of ownership of shares
of our common stock.
We have agreed that, except pursuant to a publicly announced stock
repurchase program to purchase shares of our common stock or under our stock
option plan or employee stock purchase plan, we will not for a period of 180
days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of RBC
Dain Rauscher Inc. on behalf of the underwriters, purchase, redeem or call for
redemption, or prepay or give notice of prepayment (or announce any redemption
or call for redemption, or any prepayment or notice of prepayment) of, any of
our securities.
The underwriters may make copies of this prospectus available over the
Internet to customers or through their websites.
Certain representatives of the underwriters or their affiliates have
performed and may in the future perform investment banking and other financial
services for us and our affiliates for which they may receive advisory or
transaction fees, as applicable, plus out-of-pocket expenses, of the nature and
in amounts customary in the industry for these financial services.
The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend to confirm
sales to any discretionary account without the prior written approval of the
customer in compliance with NASD Rule 2720(l).
22
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,
P.C., Chicago, Illinois. Certain legal matters have been passed upon for the
underwriters by Jones Day, Chicago, Illinois.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited our consolidated
financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2002, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by
reference in our Annual Report and in this prospectus. Our financial statements
are incorporated by reference in this prospectus in reliance on Ernst & Young
LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 that
we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain
all the information set forth in the registration statement, certain parts of
which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For
further information with respect to us and the securities offered by this
prospectus, reference is made to the registration statement, including the
exhibits to the registration statement and the documents incorporated by
reference.
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. Our filings are available to the public over the
Internet at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy
any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facilities at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can also obtain copies of the
documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the
SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference
facilities. Our SEC filings are also available on our web site at
http://www.wintrust.com, and at the office of the Nasdaq National Market. For
further information on obtaining copies of our public filings at the Nasdaq
National Market, you should call (212) 656-5060.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
We "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus the information we
file with the SEC, 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.
Some information contained in this prospectus updates and supersedes
the information incorporated by reference and some information that we file
subsequently with the SEC will automatically update this prospectus. We
incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
23
o our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2002, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2003 (File
No. 0-21923);
o our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2003, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2003 (File No.
0-21923);
o our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 2003, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2003 (File No.
0-21923);
o our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January
16, 2003 (File No. 0-21923);
o our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February
4, 2003 (File No. 0-21923);
o our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 18,
2003 (File No. 0-21923);
o our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 24,
2003 (File No. 0-21923);
o our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 30,
2003 (File No. 0-21923);
o our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 17,
2003 (File No. 0-21923); and
o the descriptions of (a) our Common Stock contained in our
Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated January 3, 1997 (File
No. 0-21923), and (b) the associated preferred share purchase
rights contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A
dated August 28, 1998 (File No. 0-21923).
We also incorporate by reference any filings we make with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after
the initial filing of the registration statement that contains this prospectus
and before the time that all of the shares offered by this prospectus are sold.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this
prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in
any other document filed later which is also incorporated in this prospectus by
reference, modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this prospectus except as
so modified or superseded. The information contained in this prospectus should
be read together with the information in the documents incorporated in this
prospectus by reference.
You may request, either orally or in writing, and we will provide, a
copy of these filings at no cost by contacting David A. Dykstra, our Chief
Operating Officer, at the following address and phone number:
Wintrust Financial Corporation
727 North Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-1951
(847) 615-4096
24
1,197,486 SHARES
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK
---------------------------
PRICE $35.80 PER SHARE
---------------------------
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS
U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
RAYMOND JAMES
STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY
INCORPORATED
SANDLER O'NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.
------------------------
SEPTEMBER 16, 2003
------------------------