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STEVENSON, Md.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--The law firm of Brower Piven, A Professional Corporation, has commenced an investigation into possible breaches of fiduciary duty to current shareholders of North Central Bancshares, Inc. (aNorth Centrala) (NASDAQ: FFFD) and other violations of state law by the board of directors of North Central relating to the proposed buyout of the company by privately owned Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. (aGreat Westerna). The firmas investigation seeks to determine, among other things, whether the board breached its fiduciary duties by failing to maximize shareholder value.

On March 13, 2012, North Central and Great Western entered into an agreement providing for Great Western to acquire North Central. Under the terms of the buyout transaction, North Central shareholders will receive $30.58in cash for each share of North Central common stock held. While the press release announcing the transaction claims that the merger price represents an approximate premium of 39% over the share closing price on March 12, 2012, North Central recently reported that profit for 2011 increased 53% to $2.6 million as its provision for loan losses fell almost 49%, to $2.1 million.

If you currently own shares of North Central and would like to learn more about the investigation being conducted by Brower Piven, you may email or call Brower Piven, who will, without obligation or cost to you, attempt to answer your questions. You may contact Brower Piven by email at [ hoffman@browerpiven.com ], by calling (410) 415-6616, or at Brower Piven, A Professional Corporation, 1925 Old Valley Road, Stevenson, Maryland 21153. Attorneys at Brower Piven have combined experience litigating securities and other class action cases of over 60 years.