FirstMerit, Takeda, other suburban firms plan layoffs
Companies were preparing to layoff about 2,000 workers statewide, including many around the suburbs, according to documents filed with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and released this week.
Many of those companies began layoffs in June and others will continue through August, the reports said.
FirstMerit Corp., which acquired the failed Midwest Bank and Trust after it was taken over by the federal government, cut about 119 workers in June. Nearly all were in Midwest's Melrose Park headquarters. The vast majority of the branch staff and commercial lending teams have been retained, said FirstMerit spokesman Rob Townsend.
"With the acquisition of Midwest, FirstMerit's footprint in Chicago continues to grow. Looking forward, we expect to create new employment opportunities throughout our footprint, which includes the former George Washington and First Bank branches," Townsend said.
FirstMerit has hired a number of commercial bankers and continues to look for experienced professionals. The bank also is growing its Wealth Management line of business in Chicago and looking to increase staffing, he said.
In May, FirstMerit of Akron, Ohio, acquired the Midwest Bank, which had been seized by the federal government. Midwest had branches in Algonquin, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elgin, Inverness, Long Grove, McHenry, Mount Prospect, Naperville, Roselle and North Barrington and elsewhere.
Other companies with layoffs include:
• R.G. Ray Corp., a manufacturer of clamps and other products for the auto, truck and other markets, said it would close its facilities at 900 Busch Parkway in Buffalo Grove by late August. About 70 workers would be laid off, a state document said.
A company spokeswoman did not immediately respond, but the company website said it had completed an expansion of a plant in Juarez, Mexico.
• Deerfield-based Takeda, a global pharmaceutical company, reported in May that it likely would cut about 1,500 jobs. The report filed this week noted 1,469.
Spokeswoman Kara M. Hoeger said individuals were notified in June, which included roughly 500 locally.
• Pace DuPage said it closed its facilities at 1500 W. Fullerton Ave. in Addison in June, affecting 50 workers, a state document said. A company spokesman was unavailable.