As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 21, 2008.

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Illinois   36-3161078

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Pierce Place, Suite 1500, P.O. Box 459, Itasca, Illinois 60143

(Address, including zip code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan

(Full title of the plan)

Cynthia A. Lance

Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

One Pierce Place,

Suite 1500, P.O. Box 459

Itasca, Illinois 60143

(630) 875-7345

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone

number, including area code, of agent for service)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer   x             Accelerated filer   ¨             Non-accelerated filer   ¨             Smaller reporting company   ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 
Title of Securities to be Registered  

Amount to

be Registered

 

Proposed Maximum

Offering Price Per

Share (1)

 

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate Offering

Price (1)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (2)

  200,000 shares (3)   $24.73   $4,946,000   $194.38
 
 

 

(1)    Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h)(1) on the basis of the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 20, 2008.
(2)    Includes associated preferred share purchase rights.
(3)    Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of additional securities as may become issuable under the Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan as the result of any future stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) filed a registration statement on Form S-8 on November 17, 2000 (File No. 333-50140) (“Prior Registration Statement”) which covered the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), of 190,394 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”), issuable pursuant to the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Restated Non-Employee Directors’ 1997 Stock Option Plan (“Option Plan”). This number included 187,500 newly registered shares of Common Stock issuable under the Option Plan, and 2,894 shares (adjusted for stock splits) of Common Stock remaining for issuance under the Option Plan pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-63095) filed on September 9, 1998 that were carried forward.

The Company is filing this registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to register 200,000 shares of Common Stock issuable to non-employee directors of the Company pursuant to the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan (“Directors Plan”), which was approved by the stockholders of the Company on May 21, 2008. This Registration Statement is in addition to the Prior Registration Statement which remains in effect.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be sent or given to eligible participants in the Directors Plan as specified by Rule 428(b) of the Securities Act. Consistent with the instructions of Part I of Form S-8, such documents need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424. Copies of such documents are available to participants in the Directors Plan without charge, upon written or oral request to First Midwest Bancorp, Inc., One Pierce Place, Suite 1500, P.O. Box 459, Itasca, Illinois 60143, Attn: Corporate Secretary.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

The following documents filed with the SEC by the Company are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Registration Statement:

 

  a. The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007;

 

  b. All reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, since December 31, 2007; and

 

  c. A description of the Common Stock, and preferred stock purchase rights associated with the Common Stock, as contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated February 17, 1989 and any subsequent amendment or report filed with the SEC by the Company for the purpose of updating that description.

All documents filed by the Company subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified, superseded or replaced for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statement so modified, superseded or replaced shall not be deemed, except as so modified, superseded or replaced, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Incorporated by reference. See Item 3.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) as well as the organizational documents of the Company and the Company’s form of Indemnification Agreement as filed with the SEC.

Statute : Section 145 of the DGCL provides that, subject to certain limitations in the case of suits brought by a corporation and derivative suits brought by a corporation’s stockholders in its name, a corporation may indemnify any person who is made a party to any suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against expenses, including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, through, among other things, a majority vote of the directors who were not parties to the suit or proceeding, if the person (1) acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and (2) in a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that no such indemnification of directors, officers, employees or agents may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

Organization Documents : The Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provide for indemnification of the directors, officers, employees and other agents of the Company to the fullest extent not prohibited by Delaware law. The Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation is consistent with Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, which generally permits a corporation to include a provision limiting the personal liability of a director in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation. With limitations, this provision eliminates the personal liability of the Company’s directors to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, this provision does not eliminate director liability: (1) for breaches of duty of loyalty to the Company and its stockholders; (2) for acts of omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) for transactions from which a director derives improper personal benefit; or (4) under Section 174 of the DGCL. Section 174 of the DGCL makes directors personally liable for unlawful dividends and stock repurchases or redemptions and expressly sets forth a negligence standard with respect to such liability. While this provision protects the directors from awards for monetary damages for breaches of their duty of care, it does not eliminate their duty of care. The limitations in this provision have no effect on claims arising under the securities laws.

Contractual Obligation : The Company has entered into agreements to indemnify its directors and executive officers (in addition to the indemnification provided for in the Company’s Amended and Restated By-laws and Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) and the directors and executive officers of its wholly owned subsidiary First Midwest Bank. These agreements, among other things, will indemnify the directors and executive officers for all direct and indirect expenses and costs (including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, other out of pocket costs and reasonable compensation for time spent by such persons for which they are not otherwise compensated by the Company or any third party) and liabilities of any type whatsoever (including, but not limited to, judgements, fines and settlement fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with either the investigation, defense, settlement or appeal of any threatened, pending or completed action suit or other proceeding, including any action by or in the right of the Company or First Midwest Bank, arising out of such person’s services as a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Company or First Midwest Bank, any subsidiary of the Company or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at the request of the Company. The Company believes that these provisions and agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced directors and officers.

Insurance : The Company maintains liability insurance for the benefit of its directors and officers.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed

Not applicable

 

Item 8. Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index beginning immediately following the signature pages hereto are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9. Undertakings

The Company hereby undertakes:

 

  a. (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement;

 

  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if this Registration Statement is on Form S-8 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

 

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3) To remove from registration, by means of a post-effective amendment, any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  b. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering hereof.

 

  c. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the provisions referred to in Item 6 of this Registration Statement, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Itasca and State of Illinois on the 21st day of May, 2008.

 

FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.
By:   /s/ J OHN M. O’M EARA
  John M. O’Meara
  Chairman of the Board of Directors and
  Chief Executive Officer

Each person whose signature appears below appoints John M. O’Meara, Michael L. Scudder, Paul F. Clemens and Cynthia A. Lance, individually, as true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution to sign any amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to each registration statement amended hereby, and to file the same, with all exhibits and other related documents, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with full power and authority to perform any necessary or appropriate act in connection with the amendment(s).

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 21 st day of May, 2008.

 

Signatures

    

/ S / JOHN M. O’MEARA

John M. O’Meara

   Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

/ S / PAUL F. CLEMENS

Paul F. Clemens

   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Principal Accounting Officer

/ S / VERNON A. BRUNNER

Vernon A. Brunner

   Director

/ S / BRUCE S. CHELBERG

Bruce S. Chelberg

   Director

/ S / JOHN F. CHLEBOWSKI, JR.

John F. Chlebowski, Jr.

   Director

/ S / JOSEPH W. ENGLAND

Joseph W. England

   Director

/ S / BROTHER JAMES GAFFNEY, FSC

Brother James Gaffney, FSC

   Director

/ S / THOMAS M. GARVIN

Thomas M. Garvin

   Director

/ S / PATRICK J. MCDONNELL

Patrick J. McDonnell

   Director

/ S / ROBERT P. O’MEARA

Robert P. O’Meara

   Director

/ S / JOHN E. ROONEY

John E. Rooney

   Director

/ S / ELLEN A. RUDNICK

Ellen A. Rudnick

   Director

/ S / JOHN L. STERLING

John L. Sterling

   Director

/ S / J. STEPHEN VANDERWOUDE

J. Stephen Vanderwoude

   Director

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Documents

      4.1    Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated March 31, 2002.
      4.2    Restated Bylaws of the Company is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the current report on Form 8-K dated August 15, 2007.
      4.3    Amended and Restated Rights Agreement, Form of Rights Certificate and Designation of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company, dated November 15, 1995, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits (1) through (3) of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 21, 1995.
      4.4    First Amendment to Rights Agreements, dated June 18, 1997, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of the Company’s Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 1997.
      4.5    Amended Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock, dated June 17, 1998, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q dated June 30, 1998.
      4.6    Amendment No. 2 to Rights Agreements, dated November 14, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2005.
      5    Opinion of Vedder Price, P.C.
    10.1    First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan
    15    Acknowledgement of Ernst & Young LLP
    23.1    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
    23.2    Consent of Vedder Price, P.C. (contained in Exhibit 5)
    24    Power of Attorney (set forth on the signature page hereof).

EXHIBIT 5

 

LOGO    LOGO

May 21, 2008

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

One Pierce Place, Suite 1500

Itasca, Illinois 60143

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as special counsel to First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable under the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Plan (the “Plan”).

In connection with our opinion, we have examined originals, or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Registration Statement, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the Restated Bylaws of the Company, the Plan and such other corporate records, documents and other papers as we deemed necessary to examine for purposes of this opinion. We have assumed the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic, and the genuineness of all signatures.

Based on the foregoing and the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, it is our opinion that the 200,000 shares of Common Stock, when issued by the Company in accordance with the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The opinion expressed herein is based on the facts in existence and the laws in effect on the date hereof and is limited to the Federal securities laws and the applicable laws of the States of Illinois currently in effect. The opinions expressed herein are matters of professional judgment and are not a guarantee of result.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion in connection with the Registration Statement and to references to our firm therein. In giving our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ VEDDER PRICE P.C.

Exhibit 10.1

LOGO

AMENDED AND RESTATED

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN

*****

PLAN DOCUMENT

As amended through May 21, 2008

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan

Plan Document

Table of Contents

 

SECTION 1 – ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSES AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN

   A-1

1.1 – Establishment

   A-1

1.2 – Purposes

   A-1

1.3 – Effective Date

   A-1

SECTION 2 – DEFINITIONS

   A-1

SECTION 3 – PARTICIPATION, ADMINISTRATION AND AWARD AGREEMENTS

   A-3

3.1 – Participation

   A-3

3.2 – Administration

   A-3

3.3 – Award Agreements

   A-3

SECTION 4 – COMMON STOCK AVAILABLE

   A-3

4.1 – Number

   A-3

4.1 – Unused Stock

   A-3

4.3 – Adjustment in Capitalization

   A-3

SECTION 5 – Awards

   A-4

5.1 – Grant of Options

   A-4

5.2 – Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights

   A-4

5.3 – Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units

   A-4

5.4 – Grant of Other Awards

   A-4

SECTION 6 – COORDINATION WITH OMNIBUS STOCK AND INCENTIVE PLAN

   A-5

6.1 – Change-in-Control

   A-5

6.2 – Limited Transferability of Options Beneficiary Designations

   A-5

SECTION 7 – AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

   A-5

7.1 – Amendment, Modification or Termination of the Plan

   A-5

7.2 – Amendment or Modification of Awards

   A-5

SECTION 8 – MISCELLANEOUS

   A-5

8.1 – Rights of Directors

   A-5

8.2 – Indemnification

   A-6

8.3 – Requirements of Law

   A-6

8.4 – Governing Law

   A-6

FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN

Plan Document

Section 1.     Establishment, Purposes and Effective Date

1.1 Establishment . First Midwest Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “FMBI”), hereby amends and restates the “FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS’ STOCK OPTION PLAN” (as last amended on May 20, 2003) as the “FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN”.

1.2 Purposes. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by enabling the Company to provide a Non-Employee Director compensation program that attracts and retains the services of sophisticated and qualified independent directors whose judgment, initiative, leadership, and efforts are important to the success of the Company, as well as by aligning the interest of the Company’s Non-Employee Directors with those of the Company’s stockholders.

1.3 Effective Date . The Plan, as amended and restated, shall become effective immediately upon receipt of approval by the Company’s stockholders on May 21, 2008.

Section 2.     Definitions

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings hereinafter set forth:

(a) “ Award ” means any Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or Other Award granted under this Plan.

(b) “ Award Agreement ” means the agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to an Award.

(c) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(d) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(e) “ Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee appointed from time to time by the Board to administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist of two or more members, each of whom shall qualify as a “non-employee director,” as the term (or similar or successor term) is defined by Rule 16b-3.

(f) “ Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company or such other class of shares or other securities as may be applicable pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 4.3 .

(g) “ Effective Date ” means May 21, 2008, the date on which the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders.

(h) “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(i) “ Fair Market Value ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Omnibus Plan.

 

A-1

(j) “ Gain Deferral Plan ” means the “FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC. STOCK OPTION GAIN DEFERRAL PLAN” as such plan may be amended from time to time and which is only available to certain non-employee directors who were participants in such plan prior to January 1, 2005.

(k) “ Non-Employee Director ” means any person who is a member of the Board and who is not, as of the applicable Award grant date, an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. A Non-Employee Director who, with the approval of the Board, enters into a “Continuing Participant Agreement” with the Company effective upon such person ceasing to be a member of the Board shall continue to be deemed to be a Non-Employee Director for purposes of the Plan and shall not be deemed to incur a cessation of directorship during the term of such “Continuing Participant Agreement”.

(l) “ Omnibus Plan ” means the “FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC. OMNIBUS STOCK AND INCENTIVE PLAN”, as such plan may be amended from time to time.

(m) “ Option ” means the right to purchase shares of Common Stock at a stated price for a specified period of time. For purposes of the Plan, an Option is a “Nonstatutory (Nonqualified) Stock Option,” or “NSO” as defined by Code Section 422.

(n) “ Other Award ” means an Award, other than a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit granted under this Plan, including the right to receive shares of Common Stock or a fixed or variable share denominated unit granted under this Plan or any deferred compensation plan established from time to time by the Company.

(o) “Plan” means the “FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN” as set forth herein and any amendments hereto.

(p) “ Restricted Stock ” means shares of Common Stock granted to a Non-Employee Director pursuant to Subsection 5.3 of the Plan.

(q) “ Restricted Stock Unit ” means a right to receive a payment equal to the value of a share of Common Stock, pursuant to Subsection 5.3 of the Plan.

(r) “ Retirement ” means termination of the Non-Employee Director’s Board membership upon the expiration of the Non-Employee Director’s term of office (unless such Non-Employee Director is then elected for another term of office), or upon such other circumstances as the Board may in its discretion determine to constitute “Retirement”.

(s) “ Rule 16b-3 ” means Rule 16b-3 or any successor or comparable rule or rules applicable to Awards granted under the Plan promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(t) “ Stock Appreciation Right ” and “SAR” mean the right to receive a payment from the Company equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the date of exercise over a specified price fixed by the Committee, which shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant. In the case of a Stock Appreciation Right which is granted in conjunction with an Option, the specified price shall be the Option exercise price.

 

A-2

Except when otherwise indicated by the context, words in the masculine gender when used in the Plan shall include the feminine gender, the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.

Section 3.     Participation, Administration and Award Agreements

3.1 Participation . Each Non-Employee Director as of the Effective Date and each person who becomes a Non-Employee Director after the Effective Date shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

3.2 Administration . The Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the Plan. The Committee, by majority action thereof (whether taken during a meeting or by written consent), shall determine the type or types of Awards to be made under the Plan. The Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to provide for conditions and assurances deemed necessary or advisable to protect the interests of the Company, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, but only to the extent not contrary to the express provisions of the Plan. Determinations, interpretations, or other actions made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons whomsoever. To the extent deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of Rule 16b-3 or otherwise, the Board may act as the Committee hereunder.

3.3 Award Agreements . Each Award shall be embodied in an Award Agreement, which shall contain such terms, conditions and limitations as shall be determined by the Committee.

Section 4.     Common Stock Available

4.1 Number. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to issuance under this Plan, and subject to adjustment upon occurrence of any of the events indicated in Subsection 4.3 , may not exceed 200,000 plus the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards outstanding as of the Effective Date. The Common Stock to be delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized but unissued stock or treasury stock not reserved for any other purpose.

4.2 Unused Stock. In the event an Option expires or terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full (including, without limitation, cancellation and re-grant), or in the event that an Option is exercised or settled in a manner such that some or all of the shares of Common Stock related to the Option are not issued (including as the result of a share-for-share exercise or the use of shares for withholding taxes, if any), the shares of Common Stock subject thereto which have not become outstanding shall (unless the Plan shall have terminated) remain available for issuance under the Plan. In the event an Award is forfeited for any reason, or settled in cash in lieu of Common Stock or in a manner such that some or all of the shares of Common Stock related to the Award are not issued (including as a result of the use of shares for tax withholding), such shares of Common Stock shall (unless the Plan shall have terminated) remain available for issuance under the Plan.

4.3 Adjustment in Capitalization. In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock by reason of a stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, or other similar corporate change, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award to be granted or outstanding pursuant to the Plan, and/or the stated exercise price (if applicable), shall be appropriately adjusted by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive; provided, however, that fractional shares shall be rounded to the nearest whole share.

 

A-3

Section 5.     Awards

5.1 Grant of Options . Subject to the provisions of Sections 4 and 6 , Options may be granted to Non-Employee Directors at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of Options granted to each Non-Employee Director.

(a) No Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall have an exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.

(b) Options awarded under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall approve, either at the time of grant of such Options or pursuant to a general determination, and which need not be the same for all participants.

(c) Options may be exercised in the manner set forth in the Omnibus Plan. The exercise price payable upon the exercise of an Option by a Non-Employee Director who has a deferral election in effect under the Gain Deferral Plan shall be made solely by tendering previously-acquired shares of Common Stock.

(d) Each Option shall vest and become exercisable as determined by the Committee, including vesting terms upon termination of service to the Board due to death, disability or retirement. Once vested, Options shall expire upon the date which is three years following termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service to the Board for any reason; provided, however , in no event may any Option be exercised beyond the tenth anniversary of its date of grant, or such shorter period which may be set forth in the Award Agreement.

5.2 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights . Subject to the provisions of Sections 4 and 6 , Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) may be granted to Non-Employee Directors at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. An SAR may be granted at the discretion of the Committee in any of the following forms in connection with previously awarded Options: (a) in lieu of Options; (b) in addition to Options; (c) upon lapse of Options and; (d) independent of Options. The terms, conditions and material provisions of an Award of SARs issued to a Non-Employee Director shall be made in accordance with and subject to the provisions relating to SARs set forth in the Omnibus Plan.

5.3 Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units . Subject to the provisions of Sections 4 and 6 , the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan to Non-Employee Directors and in such amounts as it shall determine. Each grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be in writing. The Committee, in its discretion, may permit a Non-Employee Director to defer receipt of any Restricted Stock Units beyond the expiration of any applicable period of restriction. The terms, conditions and material provisions of an Award of shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units issued to a Non-Employee Director shall be made in accordance with and subject to the provisions relating to shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units set forth in the Omnibus Plan.

5.4 Grant of Other Awards . Subject to the provisions of Sections 4 and 6 , Other Awards may be granted to Non-Employee Directors at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The terms, conditions and material provisions of an Other Award issued to a

 

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Non-Employee Director shall be made in accordance with and subject to the provisions relating to Other Awards set forth in the Omnibus Plan.

Section 6.     Coordination with Omnibus Stock and Incentive Plan

The following provisions of the Omnibus Plan, shall be applicable to the Director Options as if such provisions were set forth in this Plan in full:

6.1 Change-in-Control. For purposes of this Plan, a “Change-in-Control” shall be deemed to have occurred on the date a Change-in-Control occurs under the Omnibus Plan. In the event of a Change-in-Control of the Company, all Awards under the Plan shall vest 100%, whereupon all Options shall become exercisable in full, the restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock shall terminate and all Other Awards shall be paid out based on the terms thereof.

6.2 Limited Transferability of Awards; Beneficiary Designations. No Award granted under this Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its discretion, authorize all or a portion of an Award to be on terms which permit the transfer by the Non-Employee Director to the extent the Committee under the Omnibus Plan may permit such transfers. Non-Employee Directors may designate beneficiaries with respect to Awards granted hereunder on the same basis as applicable to awards under the Omnibus Plan.

Section 7.     Amendment and Termination

7.1 Amendment, Modification or Termination of the Plan . The Committee, or any committee to the extent authorized by the Board, may make such modifications to, or may terminate, the Plan as it shall deem advisable; provided, however, that except as contemplated by Subsection 4.3 , no modification that increases the number of shares of Common Stock subject to issuance under the Plan or that amends the provisions of Subsection 7.2 to remove the prohibition regarding Award re-pricing shall be made without approval of the Company’s shareholders; and provided, further, that no modification or termination shall adversely affect the rights under any Award then outstanding without the written consent of the holder.

7.2 Amendment or Modification of Awards . The Committee, or any committee to the extent authorized by the Board, may amend or modify any outstanding Awards in any manner to the extent that the Committee would have had the authority under the Plan initially to make such Award as so modified or amended, including without limitation, to change the date or dates as of which Awards may be exercised, to remove the restrictions on Awards, or to modify the manner in which Awards are determined and paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, except in circumstances described in Subsection 4.3 , the terms and outstanding Awards may not be amended to reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or SARs, or exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Options or SARs, without shareholder approval.

Section 8.     Miscellaneous

8.1 Rights of Directors. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Non-Employee Director any right to continue to serve as a member of the Board or otherwise to be retained in the service of the Company.

 

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8.2 Indemnification. To the extent permitted by law, each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he may be a party or in which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such member, provided such member shall give the Company an opportunity, at its expense, to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

8.3 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Common Stock with respect to an Award, shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.

8.4 Governing Law. The Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware .

 

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Exhibit 15

Acknowledgement of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Audit Committee

First Midwest Bancorp, Inc.

We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 as filed on May 21, 2008) of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. pertaining to the Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan of our report dated May 6, 2008 relating to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. that are included in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Chicago, Illinois

May 21, 2008

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 as filed on May 21, 2008) pertaining to the Amended and Restated Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. of our reports dated February 26, 2008, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Chicago, Illinois

May 21, 2008