First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Announces Proposed $150 Million Common Stock Offering


ITASCA, IL--(Marketwire - January 12, 2010) - First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. ("First Midwest" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: FMBI) today announced that it intends to offer and sell approximately $150 million of common stock in an underwritten public offering. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. are acting as joint bookrunners for the offering. Sandler O'Neill + Partners, L.P. is acting as co-manager for the offering.

The underwriters will have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of the offered amount of the Company's common stock.

This press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the common stock. The offering is not being made in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.

First Midwest has filed a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is effective, and will file a prospectus supplement related to this offering. Prospective investors should read the registration statement (including the base prospectus), the prospectus supplement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. Copies of these documents are available for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Additionally, these documents may be obtained from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Attn: Prospectus Department, 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004 or by faxing (212) 902-9316, calling toll-free (866) 471-2526 or emailing Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com or from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Attn: Equity Capital Markets, 787 Seventh Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019 or by calling toll-free (800) 966-1559.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Cynthia Lance (Media) EVP and Corporate Secretary First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (630) 875-7345 Paul Clemens (Investors) EVP and Chief Financial Officer First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. (630) 875-7347