UNITED STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant
to Section 14(a) of the Securities
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive
Proxy Statement |
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Definitive
Additional Materials |
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Soliciting
Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
First Business
Financial Services, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the
appropriate box):
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No
fee required. |
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
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(1) |
Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(2) |
Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(3) |
Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined): |
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(4) |
Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of
its filing. |
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(1) |
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Previously Paid: |
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(2) |
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Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
[The following
was provided to employees of First Business Financial Services, Inc.]
Notice of Special
Shareholder Meeting and Proxy Statement1
1. |
Why
is First Business holding a Special Shareholder Meeting? |
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a. |
Shareholders
are being asked to consider approval of two Amendments to our Articles of
Incorporation. |
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b. |
These
Amendments would increase the authorized shares of Common Stock and authorize
the issuance of a new series of preferred stock. |
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c. |
The
Board of Directors is recommending a vote FOR approval of both Amendments. |
2. |
Why
is the Board recommending approval of these Amendments? |
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a. |
The
Board believes these Amendments are in the best interest of our Company and
shareholders for several reasons: |
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i. |
The
Preferred Stock Amendment gives the Company the ability to sell shares of
Preferred Stock to the US Department of Treasury under the Capital Purchase
Program on terms that the Board believes would be very favorable to the
Company. If this Amendment is not approved by shareholders, First Business
would not be able to participate in the Treasurys Capital Purchase
Program. |
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ii. |
This
capital will provide the Company with ongoing flexibility to invest in our
growth markets, pursue strategic investments and continue our strong history of
extending financing to new and existing relationship clients. |
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iii. |
This
capital would further strengthen our balance sheet and would provide additional
capital to support our long-term growth strategy. |
3. |
Capital
Purchase Program (CPP)2 What is it? |
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a. |
CPP
is a voluntary Capital Purchase Program announced by the U.S. Treasury on
October 14, 2008. |
1 |
Notice of Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement dated November 26, 2008,
filed with the SEC November 26, 2008. |
2 |
http://www.ustreas.gov/initiatives/eesa/ |
1
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b. |
The
goal is to provide capital to healthy US financial institutions to increase the
flow of financing to US business and consumers and to support the US economy. |
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c. |
US
Treasury is authorized to purchase up to $250 billion of senior preferred
shares from qualifying US controlled financial institutions. |
4. |
What
are the terms of the CPP?3 |
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a. |
The
senior preferred shares will pay a cumulative dividend rate of 5% for the first
five years and will reset to a rate of 9% after year 5. |
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b. |
The
shares will be non-voting, other than class voting rights on matters that could
adversely affect the shares. |
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c. |
The
senior preferred shares are callable at par after three years. Prior to the end
of the three years, the senior preferred may be redeemed with the proceeds from
a qualifying equity offering. |
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d. |
The
Treasury will receive warrants to purchase common stock with an aggregate
market price equal to 15% of the senior preferred investment. The exercise
price on the warrants will be the market price of the common stock calculated
on a 20-trading day trailing average. As of November 14, 2008 the 20-trading
day trailing average market price of our common stock was $15.82. |
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e. |
The
recipient financial institution must agree to certain standards relating to
executive compensation. Note: FBFS is already in compliance with these
standards. |
5. |
Who
is participating in the CPP? |
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a. |
As
of October 14, 2008, nine large financial institutions had agreed to
participate in the program. These healthy financial institutions voluntarily
agreed to the same terms that will be available to all other
participants.4 |
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b. |
As
of November 14, 2008, thirty nine financial institutions have received nearly
$150 billion with another $65 billion approved. |
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c. |
The
deadline for public financial institutions to apply was November 14, 2008, and
the Treasury has indicated intent to fund by year-end 2008. |
6. |
Why
is First Business considering participation in this program? |
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a. |
The
First Business Board of Directors believes that this new capital which would
qualify as Tier 1 capital is being provided at very favorable market terms. |
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b. |
While
First Business is adequately capitalized with our current Tier 1 capital
position, this new capital would support and enhance First Businesss
focused long-term growth strategy. |
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c. |
This
capital would provide us with ongoing flexibility to invest in our growth
markets, pursue strategic investments and continue our strong history of
extending financing to new and existing relationship clients. |
3 |
http://www.ustreas.gov/initiatives/eesa/. |
4 |
http://www.ustreas.gov/initiatives/eesa/. |
2
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d. |
Without
the additional capital we anticipate that our growth may be slowed, but we are
well capitalized, profitable and have policies and procedures in place which we
believe allow us to adequately maintain our liquidity. |
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e. |
We
anticipate using the proceeds to support our plans to maintain higher capital
levels during these uncertain economic times and to continue our disciplined
growth strategy through extending financing to new and existing clients and
funding selected acquisitions. |
7. |
What
effect will this Preferred Stock issuance have on holders of Common Stock? |
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a. |
If
we issued preferred shares under the CPP, such shares would rank senior to our
common stock. Other effects include but are not limited to: |
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b. |
To
be eligible to participate in the CPP, First Business would be required to meet
certain standards including not increasing the dividend on our Common Stock
without Treasurys consent. |
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c. |
In
conjunction with the purchase of the CPP shares, the Treasury would also
receive warrants to purchase our common stock as discussed above. The issuance
of the warrants may have a dilutive effective on earnings per share. |
8. |
How
do I vote my shares? |
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a. |
If
your shares are registered with Computershare, our Transfer Agent, you may vote
your shares by completing, signing and returning the proxy card. |
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b. |
You
may also vote by telephone or on the internet. The instructions as noted on the
proxy card are: (1) Vote by internet at www.investorvote.com using the
information providing on your proxy card or (2) Vote by telephone at
1-800-652-8683. |
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c. |
If
you hold your shares in street name in a stock brokerage account,
use the voting instruction form provided by your broker or nominee. |
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