Wintrust to Buy Mortgage, RE Companies

Wintrust Financial Corp., Lake Forest, Ill., has announced plans to acquire SGB Corp. (d/b/a WestAmerica Mortgage Co.) and its affiliate, Guardian Real Estate Services Inc.The terms of the stock-and-cash transaction were not disclosed. WAMC, one of the largest privately held mortgage lenders in the nation, is chiefly engaged in originating and buying residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market, Wintrust said. Its main origination offices are located in Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, New Jersey, Florida, and Nevada, and the company has wholesale and correspondent offices in other states. WAMC and Guardian will become direct subsidiaries of Barrington Bank & Trust Co., a wholly owned banking subsidiary of Wintrust. Edward J. Wehmer, president and chief executive officer of Wintrust, said the three owners of the two companies have signed a multiyear contract and agreed to stay on and manage their operations. Wintrust can be found online at http://www.wintrust.com.