Seasoned Executives Join the FIG Practice of The Chicago Corporation

CHICAGO, Jan. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago Corporation, an independent investment-banking firm, announced today that Susan K. Gordy, R. Patricia (Trish) Kelly and Louis F. Rosenthal have joined the firm's Financial Institutions Group (FIG) as Managing Directors and shareholders in the firm.  They will join Managing Director Thomas C. Denison to further enhance The Chicago Corporation's longstanding heritage in providing strategic and financial advisory services to financial institutions.  The team will offer comprehensive advisory services to bank management and owners ranging from tactical and operational consulting to broader strategic and capital issues.

Ms. Kelly will also lead the firm's Real Estate Investment Banking practice.  In early 2013, the firm is considering creating a Mezzanine Fund to provide secondary financing to Midwest real estate projects.

"Susan, Trish and Louis, with their broad range of experience, are seasoned banking executives who understand the day-to-day challenges that banks are facing in this tough business environment.  With over a combined 90 years working in bank leadership positions, they bring experience as well as expertise to our clients," said Frederic D. Floberg, Managing Director of the Chicago Corporation, commenting on the novelty of the team.  "Whether a bank owner is in need of capital, is having difficulty complying with the onslaught of new regulations or is considering strategies to grow the franchise, our FIG team can help," added Floberg.

The FIG advisory services offered underscore the team's in-bank experience and include:

• Strategic Business Review
• Profitability Enhancement and Peer Comparisons
• Customer Growth and Retentions Strategies
• Optimization of Capital Deployment
• Regulatory and Compliance Strategies
• Non-performing Asset Disposition
• Asset/Credit Review and Valuation
• Enterprise Risk Management
• M&A Advisory (Buy and Sell-side)
• Debt and Equity Placement and Restructuring
• Board and Key Staff Recruitment

Immediately prior to joining The Chicago Corporation, Ms. Gordy, Ms. Kelly and Mr. Rosenthal were founding principals of The GRG Group, a bank advisory firm formed to pursue ownership opportunities in the financial services sector.

Ms. Gordy is an expert in bank regulation with over 30 years of experience successfully navigating the bank regulatory environment over a range of legal, regulatory, reputational risk, crisis management and government relations' issues. Before founding The GRG Group, she was the Group Senior Vice President for Government Related Services in the legal department of LaSalle Bank Corporation; founder and Principal of SKG Associates, a financial services consulting/law firm; and a Senior Vice President at First Chicago Corporation.

Ms. Kelly is a highly regarded commercial banking executive with over 30 years of experience leading turnarounds with an extensive background in credit, risk, troubled debt restructurings and workout. In addition, she brings experience advising CEOs, CFOs and entrepreneurs in the real estate market.  Prior to The GRG Group, Ms. Kelly was Executive Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Lending, RBS Citizens Bank; Executive Vice President and Head of National Institutional Real Estate at LaSalle Bank Corporation; and Senior Vice President and Credit Workout Manager at European American Bank,

Mr. Rosenthal is a C-level bank executive with over 30 years of experience in commercial and retail lending, real estate workout, information technology and operations, and corporate administration.  Prior to the founding of The GRG Group, he was National Banking Center Operations Executive, Bank of America; Corporate Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, LaSalle Bank Corporation and Head of Services, ABN AMRO North America; and Executive Vice President of Service Delivery and Senior Vice President of commercial loans at European American Bank.

About The Chicago Corporation:

The Chicago Corporation is an independent Chicago-based investment-banking firm focused on providing middle-market companies with a range of financial and corporate advisory services including merger and acquisitions, institutional debt and equity capital-raising, and financial restructuring.  The Chicago Corporation leverages the broad experience of its team to evaluate and implement financial strategies designed to maximize the value of a client's business. The firm is committed to a "client-first" approach, which ensures that its professionals work together to find the best market-based solution for the client. For more information about The Chicago Corporation, its investment bankers, and senior advisors, please visit www.thechicagocorp.com.

Securities transactions conducted through TCC Securities, LLC, an affiliated company, registered Broker/Dealer and Member FINRA/SIPC.

For further information please contact Susan Gordy, 312.283.0626.

SOURCE The Chicago Corporation