Overview
The Barack Ferrazzano Financial Institutions Group acted as legal counsel for Brookfield, Wisconsin, based Ridgestone Financial Services, Inc. ("Ridgestone"), the holding company for Ridgestone Bank, in the signing of a definitive merger agreement with Chicago, Illinois, based Byline Bancorp, Inc. ("Byline"), the holding company for Byline Bank. The pending merger will create a combined institution with assets of $3.0 billion and 69 branches across the Chicagoland area and Wisconsin. The transaction, valued at $105 million in cash and stock, is expected to close in late 2016.
Barack Ferrazzano's legal team was led by Dennis R. Wendte, along with Bill Fay and Katherine Fritzi Getz. Executive Compensation and Benefits were handled by Andrew K. Strimaitis, Donald L. Norman and K.C. Klagos.
Barack Ferrazzano Financial Institutions Group
This is our 9th announced bank deal in 2016 and our 52nd announced deal since 2011. Our 30-attorney Group has represented more than 250 financial institutions across the country. Our M&A experience is unparalleled-over the past decade, with our Group ranked #1 in the Midwest region by number of announced bank and thrift merger and acquisition transactions, according to SNL Financial. The Financial Institutions Group was again named as one of the top financial institution groups in the nation in the U.S. News & Best Lawyers 2016 report.