Busey Bank parent acquiring Cummins-American Corp.

First Busey Corp., the holding company for Busey Bank has signed an agreement to acquire Cummins-American Corp., the holding company for Glenview State Bank.

The pair late Tuesday announced a definitive agreement pursuant to which Busey will acquire CAC and GSB through a merger transaction.

The partnership will enhance Busey’s existing deposit, commercial banking and wealth management presence in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. Through this transaction, Busey’s deposit share ranking improves from No. 32 to No. 20 in this MSA.

Chicagoland is the largest MSA in Illinois and the Midwest. The Chicagoland MSA includes the Illinois Counties of Cook, DuPage, Will, McHenry, Grundy, Lake, Kane, Kendall and DeKalb; Kenosha County in Wisconsin; and the Indiana Counties of Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton.

Additionally, this partnership solidifies Busey Bank’s position as No. 14 in total deposit market share across the state of Illinois and also positions Busey Bank as No. 4 in deposit share for banks headquartered in Illinois.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, CAC’s shareholders will have the right to receive 444.4783 shares of First Busey’s common stock and $27,969.67 in cash for each share of common stock of CAC with total consideration to consist of approximately 73 percent cash and 27% stock. Based upon the closing price of Busey’s common stock of $23.54 on Jan. 15, 2021, the implied per share purchase price is $38,432.69 with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $190.8 million. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and required approvals, including the approval of CAC’s shareholders of the transaction.

It is anticipated GSB will be merged with and into Busey Bank at a date following the completion of the merger.

At the time of the bank merger, GSB banking centers will become branches of Busey Bank. The combined pro forma franchise will serve customers through more than 70 full-service locations, including 60 branches across Illinois, as well as 10 in Missouri, four in Florida and one in Indiana, and will have combined assets of $11.9 billion, $7.6 billion in gross loans, $9.8 billion in deposits and over $10.6 billion in wealth assets under management.

GSB was founded in 1921 and operates as a privately held, locally owned and operated commercial bank headquartered in Glenview, Illinois. GSB currently employs 150 associates and has seven branch locations in the Chicagoland MSA: Glenview (4), Northbrook, Northfield and Mount Prospect. GSB is dedicated to its founding principles by being actively involved in the communities it serves and providing exceptional personal service delivered by experienced local professionals.

Busey Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Van A. Dukeman said, “Being a strong, local community bank for the communities we serve remains a top priority to both Busey and Glenview State Bank. We believe this strategic merger will benefit our clients through enhanced capabilities and products in commercial banking, wealth management and depository services. In addition, a growing, dynamic organization presents more professional growth opportunities for our associates. We remain committed to providing premier service in the communities where we work and live.”

GSB Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Paul A. Jones shared, “The Busey organization is founded on premier, personal service provided by outstanding, local associates; therefore, we believe Busey is the right strategic partner to continue Glenview State Bank’s customer- and community-focus and to help shape the future for the NorthShore and Northwest communities for whom we remain committed to serving. We are pleased Glenview State Bank customers will continue to experience service excellence, while benefitting from an expanded array of sophisticated commercial, consumer and wealth management services and capabilities.”

Both companies support and value an engaged and empowered workforce and are committed to building a premier, service-oriented, community banking experience. Busey has been named among American Banker’s Best Banks to Work For since 2016; voted as one of the Best Places to Work in Illinois by associates since 2016; listed among the 2018 and 2019 Best-In-State Banks for Illinois by Forbes—in addition to various wellness, training and development, philanthropic and other workplace awards.

Vedder Price P.C. served as legal counsel and Stephens Inc. served as financial advisor to Busey. Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP served as legal counsel and Piper Sandler & Co. served as financial advisor to Cummins-American Corp.