Jeffrey A. "Jeff" Ott
- Of Counsel
In addition to my general corporate, M&A and securities areas of focus, I get banking. It was my family business – it’s in my DNA. My dad was a banker, I grew up around banks and I have developed a deep understanding of the industry. Whether banks are buying, selling, dealing with regulatory issues or offering securities to bolster their capital, I can help them do it successfully. I’ve been doing just that for more than 30 years.
Jeff Ott represents businesses and financial institutions on M&A, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and compliance with securities laws and general corporate and business matters. He has successfully completed well over 100 M&A transactions, and his experience features many public company transactions, including tender offers. Jeff regularly counsels publicly traded companies and their directors, officers and shareholders on strategic and compliance issues under federal and state securities laws for financial reporting, public offerings, stock transactions, proxy solicitations, tender offers and acquisitions.
industries
practices
Chemical Financial Corporation (Nasdaq)
In its general corporate matters, acquisitions of Lake Michigan Financial Corporation, Monarch Community Bancorp, Inc., Northwestern Bancorp, Inc., O.A.K. Financial Corporation, Caledonia Financial Corporation, Bank West Financial Corporation, Shoreline Financial Corporation, State Savings Bancorp, Inc., Key State Bank, and selected branches of Old Kent Bank and First Financial Bank, N.A., periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications and preparation of cash- and equity-based executive compensation plans.
Old Kent Financial Corporation (formerly NYSE)
In its sale to Fifth Third Bancorp, general corporate matters, acquisition
Chemical Financial Corporation (Nasdaq)
In its general corporate matters, acquisitions of Lake Michigan Financial Corporation, Monarch Community Bancorp, Inc., Northwestern Bancorp, Inc., O.A.K. Financial Corporation, Caledonia Financial Corporation, Bank West Financial Corporation, Shoreline Financial Corporation, State Savings Bancorp, Inc., Key State Bank, and selected branches of Old Kent Bank and First Financial Bank, N.A., periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications and preparation of cash- and equity-based executive compensation plans.
Old Kent Financial Corporation (formerly NYSE)
In its sale to Fifth Third Bancorp, general corporate matters, acquisitions of Home Bancorp, Grand Premier Financial, Inc., Merchants Bancorp, Inc., Pinnacle Banc Group, Inc., CFSB Bancorp, Inc., Seaway Financial Corporation, First National Bank Corp., and Edgemark Financial Corporation, listing of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications and preparation of cash- and equity-based executive compensation plans.
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. (OTC)
In its general corporate matters, merger of equals with Valley Ridge Financial Corp., acquisitions and sales of InsuranceSource, Inc. and Alpine Travel, Inc., acquisition of Bradford Insurance Centre, Ltd., periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications and preparation of cash- and equity-based executive compensation plans.
Sturgis Bancorp, Inc. (formerly OTC)
In its pending acquisition of West Michigan Savings Bank and going-private reverse merger.
Southern Michigan Bancorp, Inc. (OTC)
In its going-private reverse merger, merger with FNB Financial Corporation, and preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications.
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE)
In its general corporate matters, public offering of shares of Common Stock, disposition of the assets of the Brooks Shoe business and division, periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, preparation of annual meeting and stockholder communications and preparation of cash and equity-based executive compensation plans.
Spartan Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq)
In its public offering of Class A Common Stock, acquisition of J. F. Walker Company, Inc., periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications.
Kysor Industrial Corporation (formerly NYSE)
In the cash tender offer by Scotsman Industries, Inc. for shares of Kysor Common Stock, acquisition of Kalt Manufacturing Co., periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications.
Guardsman Products, Inc. (formerly NYSE)
In the cash tender offer by Lilly Industries, Inc. for shares of Guardsman Common Stock, periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and preparation of annual meeting and stockholder communications.
Dakota Telecommunications Group, Inc. (formerly an Exchange Act Reporting Company)
In its conversion from a cooperative association and merger into a Delaware business corporation, periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, acquisitions of TCIC Communications, Inc. and I-WAY Partners, Inc. and merger into a wholly owned subsidiary of McLeod USA Incorporated.
Shoreline Financial Corporation (formerly Nasdaq)
In its general corporate matters, periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications.
Haworth, Inc.
In its cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of SMED International Inc., and acquisitions of G.S.P. Manufacturing, Inc. and Myrtle Desk Company.
Hastings Manufacturing Company (formerly AMEX)
In its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications.
Manatron, Inc. (formerly Nasdaq)
In its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications.
Valley Ridge Financial Corp. (formerly Exchange Act Reporting Company)
In its general corporate matters, going-private reverse stock split, acquisition and sale of AM Realty, acquisition of Community Bank Corporation, periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and preparation of annual meeting and shareholder communications.
Community Bancorp, Inc.
In its acquisition of MSB Holding, Inc.
Security Trust Company, N.A. (Phoenix, Arizona)
In its liquidation and sale of assets to American Stock Transfer and Trust Company.
Howard Miller Clock Company
In its acquisition of the assets of the Woodmark Division of Markwood, Inc.
Caradon PLC
In its cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of Easco, Inc.
BRAIN International AG
In its acquisition of the stock of CMI-Competitive Solutions, Inc.
- “Update on PPP Loan Forgiveness,” Warner Webinar, July 14, 2020
- Proper Due Diligence, ACG Breakfast Series, May 16, 2018
- M&A Market Update, Saginaw, Michigan, April 28, 2015
- “Update on PPP Loan Forgiveness,” Warner Webinar, July 14, 2020
- Proper Due Diligence, ACG Breakfast Series, May 16, 2018
- M&A Market Update, Saginaw, Michigan, April 28, 2015
- Warner Attorneys Selected for Multiple Honors by Best Lawyers in America®
- 66 Warner Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- Warner Attorneys Selected for Multiple Honors by Best Lawyers in America®
- MiBiz Honors Warner Partner Justin Stemple, Shepler’s Transaction with Dealmaker of the Year Awards
- 108 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- Warner Represented Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry in the Sale of a Majority of Its Stock to The Hoffmann Family of Companies
- Warner Represents Donnelly Penman & Partners in the Placement of $6 Million of Subordinated Notes by Union Financial Corporation
- 51 Warner Attorneys Rated 2022 Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- Warner Represents Performance Trust Capital Partners in the Placement of $75 Million of Subordinated Notes by Arbor Bancorp, Inc.
- Warner Represented West Shore Bank Corporation in the Offering of $20 Million of Subordinated Notes
- Warner Represented ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in the Offering of $32.5 Million of Subordinated Notes
- 105 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America©
- 12 Warner Attorneys Named Lawyers of the Year
- 44 Warner Attorneys Recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Warner Represented Boenning & Scattergood, Inc. In the Placement of $35 Million of Subordinated Debt by Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.
- Warner Represented Lake Financial Corporation in Its Completion of $15 Million Subordinated Debt Offering
- Warner Represents Horizon Bank in Acquisition of 14 TCF Branches
- Warner Represented Southern Michigan Bancorp, Inc. In Its Completion of $30 Million Subordinated Debt Offering
- Warner Represents Keweenaw Financial Corporation in Subordinated Notes Offering
- Warner Partner Receives MiBiz Dealmaker of the Year and Deal of the Year Awards
- Warner Represents Sturgis Bancorp, Inc. in Subordinated Notes Offering
- 35 Warner Attorneys Rated 2021 Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- Warner Partner Jeffrey Ott Provides Insight into Bank M&A during Pandemic
- 102 Warner Attorneys Rated 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- 45 Warner Attorneys Recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Jeff Ott Discusses CARES Act Banking Provisions with GRBJ
- Warner Representing ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in the Acquisition of Community Shores Bank Corporation
- 34 Warner Attorneys Rated 2020 Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- 52 Warner Attorneys Recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- One Hundred and Two Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- Warner Represents ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. in Its Merger with County Bank Corp.
- 58 Warner Attorneys Recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- One Hundred Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- Jeffrey A. Ott Named Finalist for Dealmaker of the Year
- 57 Warner Attorneys Recognized as Michigan Super Lawyers
- Ninety-Seven Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- Warner Attorney to join Chemical Bank to Ring Nasdaq Opening Bell Tuesday
- Warner Represents Chemical Financial Corp. in Transaction Recognized as One of Biggest Deals of 2016
- Chemical Financial Corporation Completes Merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc.
- Warner Representing West Shore Bank in $8.3 Million Acquisition of West Michigan Bank & Trust
- Jeffrey A. Ott Named Finalist for Dealmaker of the Year
- 98 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- 98 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America
- SBA Issues FAQs and Interim Final Rule Related to PPP Loan Calculations and Loan Forgiveness
- SBA Issues Two Interim Final Rules Related to PPP Loans
- Paycheck Protection Program Loans – Round Two
- SBA Issues Guidance on Change of Ownership Process for Entities That Received PPP Loans
- SBA Streamlines PPP Forgiveness Application for Certain Borrowers and Revises Existing Forgiveness Application
- SBA Issues Interim Final Rule Clarifying PPP Flexibility Act of 2020
- Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 Summary
- Small Business Administration Issues Interim Final Rule Related to SBA’s PPP Loan Review Process and Lender Obligations
- Talk to Your Lender NOW if You Anticipate Problems Making Loan Payments due to COVID-19 Business Disruptions
- Warner Represents Chemical Financial Corporation in a $1.1 Billion Bank Merger with Talmer Bancorp, Inc.