Press Releases

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fitch Ratings has placed two classes of commercial mortgage pass-through certificates from of JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp series 2006-CIBC15 on Rating Watch Negative.

Classes A-M and A-J have been placed on Rating Watch Negative based on an increase in Fitch's preliminary estimate of expected losses for the 20 specially serviced loans, four of which are within the top 15 loans in the pool.

Fitch expects to resolve the Rating Watch status within the next several months following a complete review of the transaction including updated performance data for performing loans. Fitch expects classes A-M and A-J could be downgraded several categories given limited subordination of the remaining classes to offset losses.

Fitch has placed the following classes on Rating Watch Negative:

--$211.8 million class A-M 'Asf';

--$164.2 million class A-J 'B-sf'.

Additional information on Fitch's criteria is available in the Dec. 21, 2011 report, 'Surveillance Methodology for U.S. Fixed-Rate CMBS Transactions', which is available at 'www.fitchratings.com' under the following headers:

Structured Finance then CMBS then Criteria Reports

Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. The ratings above were solicited by, or on behalf of, the issuer, and therefore, Fitch has been compensated for the provision of the ratings.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

'Surveillance Methodology for U.S. Fixed-Rate CMBS Transactions' Dec. 21, 2011.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

Surveillance Methodology for U.S. Fixed-Rate CMBS Transactions

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=662869

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE.

Fitch RatingsPrimary AnalystLisa Cook, +1-212-908-0665DirectorFitch, Inc.One State Street PlazaNew York, NY 10004orCommittee ChairpersonAdam Fox, +1-212-908-0869Senior DirectororMedia Relations:Sandro Scenga, +1-212-908-0278Email: sandro.scenga@fitchratings.com

Source: Fitch Ratings

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Feb. 10, 2012) - Marauder Resources East Coast Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: MES) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 2,000,000 units ("Units") of the Company at a price of $0.20 per Unit, each Unit consisting of one common share ("Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.25 for a period of 36 months from the date of the closing of the Offering. A finder's fee may be paid to certain finders under the Offering, consisting of a cash payment equal to 5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of Units placed by such finder and the issuance of such number of Warrants as is equal to 5% of the Units placed by such finder.

Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about February 14, 2012, and is subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The net proceeds from the sale of the Units will be used for general and corporate purposes. The Common Shares and Warrants issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may include estimates, plans, anticipations, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements that are not statements of fact. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuation and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures. The Company's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Marauder Resources East Coast Inc.
        Robert V. Shields
        (403) 262.3907
        rvs@maraudernrg.ca

        Marauder Resources East Coast Inc.
        720, 440 - 2nd Avenue, S.W.
        Calgary, Alberta T2P 5E9

Source: Marauder Resources East Coast Inc.

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Feb. 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wintrust Financial Corporation ("Wintrust") (Nasdaq: WTFC) announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Barrington Bank & Trust Company, N.A. ("Barrington Bank"), has acquired certain assets and liabilities and the banking operations of Charter National Bank and Trust ("Charter National") in an FDIC-assisted transaction. Charter National currently operates two locations in Illinois; one in Hoffman Estates and one in Hanover Park, and had approximately $94 million in total assets and $89 million in total deposits as of December 31, 2011. Barrington Bank acquired substantially all of Charter National's assets at a discount of approximately 4.1% and assumed all of the non-brokered deposits at no premium. In connection with the acquisition, Barrington Bank entered into a loss sharing agreement with the FDIC whereby Barrington Bank will share in losses with the FDIC on certain loans and foreclosed real estate related to Charter National.

"This FDIC-assisted transaction provides a great opportunity to expand our presence in Hoffman Estates, where we currently operate Hoffman Estates Community Bank (a branch of Barrington Bank), as well as Hanover Park, a new market for Wintrust," said Edward J. Wehmer, President and CEO of Wintrust. "With this transaction, we have now made eight banking acquisitions in the past two years: seven FDIC-assisted and one unassisted transaction. Mr. Wehmer continued to note, "We expect this transaction will be accretive to net income and earnings per share."

Charter National locations will reopen on Saturday, February 11, 2012 and operate as Hoffman Estates Community Bank, a branch of Barrington Bank & Trust Company, N.A.   Depositors of Charter National will continue to have full access to their deposits, including ATM or debit cards, and checks. Customers should continue to bank as usual.

Valuation Appreciation Instrument

In conjunction with the acquisition of Charter National, Wintrust provided the FDIC with a Value Appreciation Instrument ("VAI") whereby 125,000 units were awarded to the FDIC at an exercise price of $31.00 per unit. The units are exercisable at any time for 180 days after February 10, 2012. If the FDIC exercises the units, Wintrust will be required to pay the FDIC an amount in cash equal to the volume weighted average price of Wintrust common stock over the two trading days immediately prior to the exercise date minus the exercise price, but in no case greater than $8.00 per unit.

About Wintrust

Wintrust is a financial holding company with assets of approximately $16 billion whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Built on the "HAVE IT ALL" model, Wintrust offers sophisticated technology and resources of a large bank while focusing on providing service-based community banking to each and every customer. Wintrust operates fifteen community bank subsidiaries, now with over 100 banking locations located in the greater Chicago and Milwaukee market areas. Additionally, the Company operates various non-bank subsidiaries including one of the largest commercial insurance premium finance companies operating in the United States, a company providing short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added out-sourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, companies engaging in the origination of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market throughout the United States, and companies providing wealth management services.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that such statements are predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially. Wintrust's expected financial results or other plans are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" and the forward-looking statement disclosure contained in Wintrust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in Wintrust's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and Wintrust undertakes no duty to update the information.

CONTACT: Edward J. Wehmer, President & Chief Executive Officer
         David A. Dykstra, Senior Executive Vice President &
         Chief Operating Officer
         (847) 615-4096
         Website address: www.wintrust.com

MUNCIE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) has reported an agreement between First Merchants Bank and the FDIC to purchase approximately $117 million of loans and assume $136 million of deposits in Shelby County Indiana. Under the Modified Whole Bank transaction without loss share, the FDIC excluded all construction and development loans, all land loans, all non-performing loans including non-accrual, restructured and 90 days past due credits and all OREO balances. The remaining assets were purchased for a $29 million discount and the deposits were assumed at no premium.

“We are pleased to have closed this immediately accretive transaction with the FDIC by purchasing a modified loan package, assuming all core deposits and the purchase of the main office building in Shelbyville, Indiana,” said Michael C. Rechin, President and CEO, First Merchants Corporation. “As an Indiana based community bank we have a great deal of experience operating banks in county seat markets throughout the state. Shelby County’s demographic profile is consistent with many of our current Indiana markets and we understand how to service those markets very well. We are very pleased with this financial transaction and we look forward to quickly assimilating Shelbyville and Shelby County into the First Merchants family.” Mark Hardwick, CFO of First Merchants Corporation added, “We have worked very hard to position First Merchants to assess and act on opportunities that present themselves and look forward to adding other franchises on attractive terms to our company.”

First Merchants also acquired the main office building in Shelbyville, Indiana for $1.4 million. Three of four locations will operate with normal Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The fourth location will be closed as usual on Saturday. All four locations will be open Monday morning as First Merchants evaluates its market coverage under the FDIC’s purchase option. Asset and liability balances are subject to change based on activities between the bid valuation and the purchase dates. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are subject to internal adjustment under generally accepted accounting principles.

Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. acted as First Merchant’s financial advisor.

About First Merchants Corporation

First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation is comprised of First Merchants Bank, N.A., which also operates as Lafayette Bank & Trust, Commerce National Bank, and First Merchants Trust Company as divisions of First Merchants Bank, N.A. First Merchants Corporation also operates First Merchants Insurance Group, a full-service property casualty, personal lines, and healthcare insurance agency.

First Merchants Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company’s Internet web page (http://www.firstmerchants.com).

First Merchants CorporationDavid L. Ortega, First Vice President/Director of Investor Relations, 765-378-8937http://www.firstmerchants.com/

Source: First Merchants Corporation, Muncie, Indiana