UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy Statement [_] Soliciting Material Pursuant to
[_] Confidential, For Use of the SS.240.14a-11(c) or SS.240.14a-12
Commission Only (as permitted
by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[_] Definitive Additional Materials
R&G FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[_] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
________________________________________________________________________________
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
________________________________________________________________________________
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
________________________________________________________________________________
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant
to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
________________________________________________________________________________
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
________________________________________________________________________________
5) Total fee paid:
________________________________________________________________________________
[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
________________________________________________________________________________
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
________________________________________________________________________________
3) Filing Party:
________________________________________________________________________________
4) Date Filed:
________________________________________________________________________________
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[R&G Financial Corporation Letterhead]
April 4, 2000
Dear Stockholder,
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of R&G Financial Corporation (the "Company"). The meeting will be held at The
Bankers Club of Puerto Rico, 208 Munoz Rivera Ave., PH Floor, Hato Rey, San
Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, on Wednesday, April 26, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., local time.
The matters to be considered by stockholders at the Annual Meeting are described
in the accompanying materials.
It is very important that you be represented at the Annual Meeting
regardless of the number of shares you own or whether you are able to attend the
meeting in person. We urge you to mark, sign, and date your proxy card today and
return it in the envelope provided, even if you plan to attend the Annual
Meeting. This will not prevent you from voting in person, but will ensure that
your vote is counted if you are unable to attend.
Your continued support of and interest in R&G Financial Corporation are
sincerely appreciated.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Victor J. Galan
---------------------
Victor J. Galan
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
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R&G FINANCIAL CORPORATION
R-G Plaza
280 Jesus T. Pinero Avenue
Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918
(787) 758-2424
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On April 26, 2000
---------------
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of R&G
Financial Corporation (the "Company"), will be held at The Bankers Club of
Puerto Rico, 208 Munoz Rivera Ave., PH Floor, Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico
00918, on Wednesday, April 26, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., local time, for the following
purposes, all of which are more completely set forth in the accompanying Proxy
Statement:
(1) To elect four (4) directors for a three-year term or until
their successors are elected and qualified;
(2) To ratify the appointment by the Board of Directors of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent
auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000; and
(3) To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Management is not
aware of any other such business which may properly come
before the meeting.
The Board of Directors has fixed April 3, 2000 as the voting record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at
the Annual Meeting. Only those stockholders of record as of the close of
business on that date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Victor J. Galan
--------------------
Victor J. Galan
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
San Juan, Puerto Rico
April 4, 2000
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER YOU OWN. EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO
BE PRESENT, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY
PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE
EITHER IN PERSON OR BY PROXY. ANY PROXY GIVEN MAY BE REVOKED BY YOU IN WRITING
OR IN PERSON AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE EXERCISE THEREOF. R&G FINANCIAL
CORPORATION.
<PAGE>
R&G FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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PROXY STATEMENT
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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
April 26, 2000
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holder of Class A common
stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Class A Shares"), and holders of Class B
common stock, $.01 par value per share ("Class B Shares") (collectively, the
"Common Stock"), of R&G Financial Corporation (the "Company"), the holding
company for R-G Premier Bank of Puerto Rico (the "Bank") and R&G Mortgage
Corporation ("R&G Mortgage"). Proxies are being solicited on behalf of the Board
of Directors of the Company to be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
("Annual Meeting") to be held at The Bankers Club of Puerto Rico, 208 Munoz
Rivera Ave., PH Floor, Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, on Wednesday,
April 26, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., local time, for the purposes set forth in the
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This Proxy Statement is first being
mailed to stockholders on or about April 4, 2000.
The proxy solicited hereby, if properly signed and returned to the
Company and not revoked prior to its use, will be voted in accordance with the
instructions contained therein. If no contrary instructions are given, each
proxy received will be voted FOR the nominees for director described herein, FOR
ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Bank's
independent auditors for 2000 and upon the transaction of such other business as
may properly come before the meeting in with the best of the persons appointed
as proxies. Any stockholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any
time before it is exercised by (i) filing with the Secretary of the Company
written notice thereof (Secretary, R&G Financial Corporation, R-G Plaza, 280
Jesus T. Pinero Avenue, Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918); (ii) submitting
a duly-executed proxy bearing a later date; or (iii) appearing at the Annual
Meeting and giving the Secretary notice of his or her intention to vote in
person. Proxies solicited hereby may be exercised only at the Annual Meeting and
any adjournment thereof and will not be used for any other meeting.
VOTING
Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 3, 2000
("Voting Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the
Voting Record Date, there were 18,440,556 Class A Shares outstanding, 10,218,451
Class B Shares outstanding, or collectively, 28,659,007 shares of Common Stock
outstanding, and the Company had no other class of equity securities
outstanding. The holder of Class A Shares, the Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
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of the Company, is entitled to two votes per share and the holders of Class B
Shares are entitled to one vote per share at the Annual Meeting on all matters
properly presented at the meeting. The Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer, who through his holdings of Class A Shares controls
64.34% of the outstanding Common Stock, has indicated his intention to vote his
shares "FOR" the election of directors and ratification of the Board of
Directors' selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent
auditor for 2000. Accordingly, the proposals presented for consideration by the
stockholders at this Annual Meeting are expected to be approved as presented.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast with a quorum
present. The five persons who receive the greatest number of votes of the
holders of Common Stock represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting
will be elected directors of the Company. Abstentions are considered in
determining the presence of a quorum and will not affect the vote required for
the election of directors. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the total votes present in person or by proxy is required to ratify the
appointment of the independent auditors. Abstentions will not be counted as
votes cast, and will have no effect on the voting of the appointment of the
Company's independent auditors. Under rules applicable to broker-dealers, the
proposals for consideration at the Annual Meeting are considered "discretionary"
items upon which brokerage firms may vote in their discretion on behalf of their
clients if such clients have not furnished voting instructions. Thus, there will
be no "broker non-votes" at the Annual Meeting.
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INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR,
CONTINUING DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Election of Directors
The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, each of which
contains approximately one-third of the Board. The directors are elected by the
stockholders of the Company for staggered three year terms, or until their
successors are elected and qualified. Stockholders of the Company are not
permitted to cumulate their votes for the election of directors.
No director or executive officer of the Company is related to any other
director or executive officer of the Company by blood, marriage or adoption,
except for Victor J. Galan, the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company, who is the father of Victor J. Galan, another
director of the Company. Each of the nominees currently serve as a director of
the Company.
Unless otherwise directed, each proxy executed and returned by a
stockholder will be voted for the election of the nominees for director listed
below. If the person or persons named as nominee should be unable or unwilling
to stand for election at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will
nominate and vote for one or more replacement nominees recommended by the Board
of Directors. At this time, the Board of Directors knows of no reason why the
nominees listed below may not be able to serve as directors if elected.
The following tables present information concerning the nominees for
director of the Company and each director whose term continues.
Nominees for Director for Three-Year Term Expiring in 2003
Director
Name Age(1) Since(2)
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Gilberto Rivera-Arreaga 50 1996
Laureno Carus Abarca 70 1983
Ileana M. Colon-Carlo 51 1998
Roberto Gorbea 58 1998
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE
ABOVE NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR.
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MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2001
Director
Name Age(1) Since(2)
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Ana M. Armendariz 67 1990
Victor L. Galan 36 1995
Benigno Fernandez 59 1996
Pedro L. Ramirez 57 1990
Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2002
Director
Name Age(1) Since(2)
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Victor J. Galan 66 1990
Ramon Prats 50 1990
Enrique Umpierre-Suarez 58 1996
Eduardo McCormack 71 1990
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(1) As of February 29, 2000
(2) Includes service as a director of the Bank or its predecessor.
Information concerning the principal occupation of each nominee for
director of the Company and other members of the present Board, during the past
five years is set forth below.
Victor J. Galan. Mr. Galan is Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, positions he has held since the
Company's incorporation in March 1996. Mr. Galan is the founder and Chairman of
the Board of R&G Mortgage, a position he has held since 1972. Mr. Galan served
as Chief Executive Officer of R&G Mortgage from its inception until November
1994. Mr. Galan is also the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Bank, a position he has held since the Bank was first acquired by
R&G Mortgage
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in February 1990, Chairman of the Board of Champion Mortgage since October 1997
and Chairman of the Board of Continental Capital Corporation since October 1999.
Ana M. Armendariz. Ms. Armendariz has been a director and Treasurer of
the Company since April 1996, Secretary, Senior Vice President and Controller of
R&G Mortgage since January 1984 and Treasurer, Senior Vice President and
Controller of Champion Mortgage since October 1997.
Ramon Prats. Mr. Prats has been the Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Company since April 1996 and a director of R&G Mortgage since
April 1985. Mr. Prats has been Executive Vice President of R&G Mortgage and
Champion Mortgage since February 1980 and October 1997, respectively, and has
held the same position with the Company since its inception. Mr. Prats also
currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bank, a
position he has held since February 1990, as a director of Champion Mortgage
since October 1997 and as director of Continental Capital since October 1999.
Juan J. Diaz. Mr. Diaz has served as a director of the Company since
April 1996 and will continue to serve as a director of the Company until this
Annual Meeting. Mr. Diaz has served as a director of R&G Mortgage since June
1996 and as a director of Champion Mortgage since October 1997. In addition, Mr.
Diaz served as a director of the Bank from 1990 to March 1998. Mr. Diaz served
as Senior Vice President, Servicing Department of R&G Mortgage since April 1984
until his retirement in August 1999.
Enrique Umpierre-Suarez. Mr. Umpierre-Suarez has been a director of the
Company and its Secretary since April 1996, a director of the Bank since January
1996 and a director of Champion Mortgage since October 1997. Mr. Umpierre-Suarez
has also served as Secretary of the Bank since April 1996 and as Secretary of
Champion Mortgage since October 1997. Mr. Umpierre-Suarez is an attorney in
private practice in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico and is also engaged in the private
practice of engineering in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.
Victor L. Galan. Mr. Galan has been a director of the Company since
April 1996, a director of R&G Mortgage since June 1996, a director of the Bank
since 1995 and a director of Champion Mortgage since October 1997. Mr. Galan has
been a Vice President of Champion Mortgage since October 1998. Previously, Mr.
Galan was the Vice President of Branch Administration of R&G Mortgage from June
1997 to October 1998, and prior thereto was the Marketing Manager and Vice
President of R&G Mortgage from February 1996 to June 1997. Mr. Galan, the son of
Victor J. Galan, the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, has been associated with R&G Mortgage since 1982, having
served as Branch Manager at various locations since 1992. Mr. Galan served as
Marketing Officer in charge of telemarketing in 1991 and his responsibilities
prior thereto included work in the Accounting, Data Processing and Closing
Departments.
Pedro Ramirez. Mr. Ramirez has been a director of the Company since
April 1996, a director of R&G Mortgage since June 1996 and a director of the
Bank since 1990. Mr. Ramirez has been President and Chief Executive Officer of
Empresas Nativas, Inc., a real estate development
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company, in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, since 1983. Mr. Ramirez also currently serves
as Vice President of Inverdec, Inc., a real estate development company in Hato
Rey, Puerto Rico, a position he has held since April 1992, and has been the
Managing Partner of Ramirez & Co., S.E., a real estate development company
located in Hato Rey since April 1986.
Laureno Carus Abarca. Mr. Carus has been a director of the Company
since April 1996, a director of R&G Mortgage since June 1996 and a director of
the Bank (and its predecessor) since 1983. Mr. Carus has been the Chairman of
the Board of Alonso and Carus Iron Works, Inc., in Catano, Puerto Rico, which is
engaged in the production and fabrication of metal products and in the
construction of commercial buildings, since September 1977 and he has been with
the firm since 1960. Mr. Carus has also been President of Petroleum Chemical
Corp., a petroleum processing corporation in Catano, Puerto Rico, since April
1994.
Eduardo McCormack. Mr. McCormack has been a director of the Company
since April 1996, a director of R&G Mortgage since June 1996 and a director of
the Bank since 1990. Mr. McCormack is recently retired. During 1994 and 1995, he
served as a consultant to Bacardi Corporation, a rum manufacturer based in
Catano, Puerto Rico. Prior thereto, Mr. McCormack was a Vice President of
Bacardi Corporation from 1981 to 1993.
Gilberto Rivera-Arreaga. Mr. Rivera-Arreaga has been a director of the
Company since April 1996 and a director of R&G Mortgage and the Bank since June
1996. Mr. Rivera-Arreaga has been Executive Vice President of the National
College of Business & Technology, Inc., a post-secondary institution with
campuses in Bayamon and Arecibo, Puerto Rico, since 1993. Prior thereto, Mr.
Rivera-Arreaga engaged in the private practice of law in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
Benigno R. Fernandez. Mr. Fernandez has been a director of the Company
since April 1996 and a director of R&G Mortgage and the Bank since June 1996.
Mr. Fernandez is Senior Partner of Fernandez, Perez Villarini & Co., a certified
public accounting firm in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Mr. Fernandez has been a
certified public accountant since 1969.
Ileana M. Colon-Carlo. Ms. Colon-Carlo has been a director of the
Company since July 1998. Ms. Colon-Carlo is currently the Chief Administration
and Financial Officer of McConnell & Valdez, a legal firm in Hato Rey, Puerto
Rico, and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Central University of
Bayamon, Puerto Rico, and an Accounting Professor in the Graduate School of
Business Administration since January 1998. Prior thereto, Ms. Colon-Carlo
served as Comptroller of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1987 to 1997. Ms.
Colon-Carlo is a past President of the Puerto Rico Certified Public Accountants
State Society and past member of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Board of
Accountancy. Additionally, Ms. Colon-Carlo is a past member of the board of
directors of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce.
Roberto Gorbea. Mr. Gorbea has been a director of the Company since
July 1998. Mr. Gorbea has been President, Chief Executive Officer and member of
the board of directors of Lord Electric Company of Puerto Rico, Inc., San Juan,
Puerto Rico, since 1984 which constructs industrial, electrical, and mechanical
systems.
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The Bank. Information concerning the principal occupation of the
director of the Bank (who does not also serve as a director of the Company and
R&G Mortgage) during the past five years is set forth below.
Jeanne Ubinas. Ms. Ubinas, a director of the Bank (and its predecessor)
since 1983, engages in the private practice of radio therapeutic medicine with
Radiation Oncology Center, Inc., in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, and has been a
radiation therapist since 1963.
R&G Mortgage. Information concerning the principal occupation of the
director of R&G Mortgage (who does not also serve as a director of the Company
and the Bank) during the past five years is set forth below.
Nelida Galan. Ms. Galan is the wife of Victor J. Galan, the Chairman of
the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Ms. Galan has
served as Treasurer of R&G Mortgage since it was organized.
Stockholder Nominations
Section 4.15 of the Company's Bylaws governs nominations for election
to the Board of Directors and requires all such nominations, other than those
made by the Board or a committee thereof, to be made at a meeting of
stockholders called for the election of directors, and only by a stockholder who
has complied with the notice provisions in that section. Stockholder nominations
must be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the
Company. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to, or mailed
and received at, the principal executive offices of the Company not later than
90 days prior to the anniversary date of the mailing of proxy materials by the
Company in connection with the immediately preceding annual meeting of
stockholders of the Company. Each written notice of a stockholder nomination is
required to set forth certain information specified in the Bylaws. No
stockholder nominations were received with respect to this Annual Meeting.
Board of Directors Meetings and Committees
Regular meetings and special meetings of the Board of Directors of the
Company are held as necessary to adequately conduct the Company's business.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, the Board of Directors met 10
times. No director attended fewer than 75% of the total number of Board meetings
or committee meetings on which he or she served in fiscal 1999 except Messrs Ana
Armendariz, Ileana Colon Carlo, Juan J. Diaz and Roberto Gorbea, who attended 6
or 60%, 6 or 60%, 7 or 70% and 5 or 50%, respectively, of the meetings of the
Board of Directors. The Company has established an Audit and Compliance
Committee, comprised of Messrs. Fernandez (Chairman), Rivera-Arreaga and
Ramirez. The Audit and Compliance Committee is responsible for reviewing the
reports of the independent auditors and internal auditors, and generally
overseeing compliance with internal policies and procedures. The Company also
has an Executive Committee, consisting of Messrs. Victor J. Galan (Chairman),
Prats (Vice Chairman), McCormack and Victor L. Galan. Additionally, the Board of
Directors acts as its own nominating committee with respect to nominating
individuals to serve on its Board of Directors.
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Regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors of R&G Mortgage
may be called and held at any time as necessary. During the year ended December
31, 1999, the Board of Directors of R&G Mortgage held five meetings. No
incumbent director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number
of Board meetings held during the period he or she served as a director.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors of the Bank are held monthly
and special meetings may be called at any time as necessary. During the year
ended December 31, 1999, the Board of Directors of the Bank held 16 meetings. No
incumbent director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number
of Board meetings held during the period he or she served as a director and the
total number of meetings held by committees of the Board of Directors on which
he or she served in fiscal 1999, except Ms. Ana Armendariz, who attended 11, or
69%, of the meetings of the Board of Directors.
Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors
Set forth below is information concerning executive officers of the
Company, the Bank and R&G Mortgage who do not serve on the Board of Directors of
the Company, R&G Mortgage or the Bank. There are no additional executive
officers of R&G Mortgage who do not serve on the Board of the Company, R&G
Mortgage or the Bank. Each executive officer is elected by the Board of
Directors and serves until their successor is elected and qualified. No
executive officer set forth below is related to any director or other executive
officer of the Company, R&G Mortgage or the Bank by blood, marriage or adoption,
and there are no arrangements or understandings between a director of the
Company, R&G Mortgage or the Bank and any other person pursuant to which such
person was elected an executive officer.
Joseph R. Sandoval, Age 36, joined the Company as its Chief Financial
Officer in January 1997, and has been a director of Continental Capital and its
secretary since October 1999. Prior thereto, Mr. Sandoval was an accountant with
Price Waterhouse LLP (a predecessor firm to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) in San
Juan, Puerto Rico from August 1987 to January 1997 and had attained the position
of Senior Manager with such firm.
Mario Ruiz, Age 37, has been the Senior Vice President - Secondary
Market of R&G Mortgage since December 1996 and director and Senior Vice
President of Champion Mortgage since October 1997. Mr. Ruiz served as Vice
President - Secondary Market of R&G Mortgage from 1990 to December 1996.
Roberto Cordova, Age 40, has been the Senior Vice President - Loan
Production of R&G Mortgage since June 1997. Previously, Mr. Cordova served as
Vice President of Branch Administration and Loan Production of R&G Mortgage. Mr.
Cordova has been with R&G Mortgage since 1987.
Jose L. Ortiz, Age 44, has been Vice President - Finance of the Bank
since September 1990. Prior thereto, Mr. Ortiz was Vice President - Accounting
Department of Caguas Federal Savings Bank in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico from May 1985
to September 1990.
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of the Voting Record Date, certain
information as to the Common Stock beneficially owned by (i) each person or
entity, including any "group" as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), who or which was
known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the issued
and outstanding Common Stock, (ii) certain directors and executive officers of
the Company, R&G Mortgage and the Bank, and (iii) all directors and executive
officers of the Company, R&G Mortgage and the Bank as a group.
Amount and Nature
Name of Beneficial of Beneficial Percent of
Owner or Number of Ownership as of Common
Persons in Group February 29, 2000(1) Stock (2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Garity & Co. Capital Management 1,675,305(3) 5.85%
1414 Banco Popular Center
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918
Thomson Horstmann & Bryant, Inc. 669,060(4) 2.44
Park 80 West, Plaza Two
Saddle Brook, New Jersey 07663
The Company's Directors and Officers
Victor J. Galan 18,440,556(5)(6) 64.34
Ana M. Armendariz 42,156(7) *
Ramon Prats 418,454(6)(7) **
Juan J. Diaz 36,750 *
Victor L. Galan 4,556 *
Enrique Umpierre-Suarez 61,400 *
Pedro Ramirez 42,720 *
Laureno Carus Abarca 40,990 *
Eduardo McCormack 54,638(8) *
Gilberto Rivera-Arreaga 6,056 *
Benigno R. Fernandez 5,026 *
Ileana M. Colon-Carlo 1,000 *
Roberto Gorbea 600 *
Joseph R. Sandoval 23,480(7) *
Additional R&G Mortgage Officers
Mario Ruiz 10,800 *
Roberto Cordova 10,800 *
Additional Bank Officer
Jose Luis Ortiz 17,478(7) *
All Directors and Officers of the 19,097,460(9) 65.97%
Company, R&G Mortgage and
the Bank as a group (18 persons)
- -----------------
* Represents less than 1% of the outstanding Class B Shares.
** Represents 3.96% of the outstanding Class B Shares.
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(1) Based upon filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act and information
furnished by the respective individuals. Under regulations promulgated
pursuant to the Exchange Act, shares are deemed to be beneficially
owned by a person if he or she directly or indirectly has or shares (i)
voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting
of the shares, or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to
dispose or to direct the disposition of the shares. Unless otherwise
indicated, the named beneficial owner has sole voting and dispositive
power with respect to the shares.
(2) As of February 29, 2000, there were 10,218,451 Class B Shares and
18,440,556 Class A Shares of the Company issued and outstanding for an
aggregate of 28,659,007 shares of the Company's Common Stock issued and
outstanding as of such date. All of the Class A Shares are owned by
Victor J. Galan, the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. The Class B Shares are registered
under the Exchange Act and are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The
Class A Shares have not been registered under the Exchange Act but are
exchangeable into an equal number of Class B Shares.
(3) Information obtained from a Schedule 13G dated February 3, 2000. Garity
& Co. Capital Management ("GCCM") is a registered investment adviser.
GCCM indicates that it is the beneficial owner and has shared voting
and dispositive power over 1,675,305 or 16.39% of Class B Shares.
(4) Information obtained from a Schedule 13G dated January 7, 2000. Thomson
Horstmann ("TH") is a New York Corporation and registered investment
advisor. TH indicates that it is the beneficial owner and has sole
voting and dispositive power over 699,060 or 6.84% of Class B Shares.
(5) Represents Class A Shares. The holder of Class A Shares, Mr. Victor J.
Galan, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, is entitled to two votes per share and the holders of Class B
Shares are entitled to one vote per share at the Annual Meeting on all
matters properly presented at the meeting. As a result of such voting
entitlement, Mr. Galan holds 78.30% of the voting power of the
aggregate issued and outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock
as of February 29, 2000.
(6) The number of shares indicated as beneficially owned by Mr. Prats take
into consideration 120,000 Class B Shares (as adjusted for the
Company's stock split in June 1998) which may be acquired upon the
exercise of stock options granted by Mr. Victor J. Galan to Mr. Prats,
which are exercisable within 60 days of the Voting Record Date. On May
8, 1998, Mr. Victor J. Galan executed a stock option agreement (the
"Stock Option Agreement") pursuant to which Mr. Galan granted to Mr.
Prats the option to purchase up to 360,000 Class B Shares (as adjusted
for the Company's stock split in June 1998). Under the terms of the
Stock Option Agreement, the options become exercisable ratably over six
years beginning on the first anniversary of the agreement. The exercise
price of the options is $4.03 per share (as adjusted for the Company's
stock split in June 1998), and both the number of
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Class B Shares underlying the options and the exercise price thereof is
subject to certain antidilution adjustments.
(7) Includes the following number of shares which may be acquired upon the
exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of the Voting
Record Date under the Company's Stock Option Plan:
Ana M. Armendariz 37,800
Ramon Prats 216,000
Joseph R. Sandoval 21,600
Jose Luis Ortiz 16,200
(8) Includes 47,684 Class B Shares held jointly with Mr. McCormack's wife.
(9) Includes 18,440,556 Class A Shares owned by Victor J. Galan. All other
shares are Class B Shares.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's officers,
directors and persons who own more than 10% of the Company's capital stock to
file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by regulation
to furnish the Company with copies of all forms they file pursuant to Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act. The Company knows of no person who owns 10% or more
of the Company's capital stock other than Victor J. Galan, the Chairman of the
Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Garity & Co.
Capital Management. See "Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock By Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management."
Based solely on review of the copies of such forms furnished to the
Company, or written representations from its officers and directors, the Company
believes that during, and with respect to, fiscal 1999, the Company's officers
and directors complied in all respects with the reporting requirements
promulgated under Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act.
11
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION
Executive Compensation
Summary Compensation Table. The following table includes individual
compensation information with respect to the Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the other most highly compensated
executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries whose total compensation
exceeded $100,000 for services rendered in all capacities during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999. Except as set forth in the footnotes to the table, the
compensation expense shown below was incurred by the subsidiary (R&G Mortgage or
the Bank) for whom the executive officer is employed.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-Term
Compensation
Annual -------------------------
Compensation Securities
--------------------------- Restricted Underlying All
Name and Stock Options/ Other
Principal Position Year Salary(1) Bonus Awards SARs Compensation(2)
- ------------------ ---- --------- ----- ------ ---- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Victor J. Galan .......... 1999 $341,759(3) $200,200(3) -- -- $ 3,040
Chairman, President and 1998 216,759 200,200 -- -- 2,693
Chief Executive Officer of 1997 216,759 200,400 -- -- 2,777
the Company; Chairman,
R&G Mortgage, Champion
Mortgage and Continental
Capital; Chairman,
President and Chief
Executive Officer of the
Bank
Ramon Prats .............. 1999 $225,000 $950,000 -- -- $ 3,174
Vice Chairman of the 1998 205,000 650,000 -- -- 3,243
Company; Executive Vice 1997 225,494 500,000 -- -- 2,934
President, R&G Mortgage;
Vice Chairman of the Bank;
Director of Champion
Mortgage and Continental
Capital(4)
Joseph R. Sandoval, ...... 1999 $123,000 $ 70,000 -- 12,000 $ 738
Senior Vice President and 1998 116,154 60,000 -- -- 577
Chief Financial Officer of 1997 90,385 40,000 -- 36,000 --
the Company, Director and
Secretary of the Board,
Continental Capital(5)
Mario Ruiz, .............. 1999 $167,262(6) $144,000(6) -- 12,000 $ 1,201
Senior Vice President, R&G 1998 158,354 120,000 -- -- 1,257
Mortgage; Director 1997 152,000 60,000 -- -- 1,012
Champion Mortgage
Roberto Cordova .......... 1999 $120,692 $117,000 -- 12,000 $ 1,770
Senior Vice President, R&G 1998 119,000 110,000 -- -- 1,791
Mortgage 1997 99,685 60,000 -- -- 1,037
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE>
- -----------------
(1) Does not include amounts attributable to miscellaneous benefits
received by the named officers. The costs to the Company of providing
such benefits to the named officers during the years ended December 31,
1999, 1998 and 1997 did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the
total of annual salary and bonus reported.
(2) Represents the employers' contribution on behalf of the employee to the
Profit Sharing Plan. See "- Profit Sharing Plan."
(3) Mr. Galan was paid a salary of $41,759 and $300,000 from R&G Mortgage
and the Bank, respectively, and a bonus of $200,000 and $200 from R&G
Mortgage and the Bank, respectively, in fiscal 1999.
(4) Mr. Prats' day to day services are conducted on behalf of, and he is
compensated by, R&G Mortgage.
(5) Mr. Sandoval is compensated by R&G Mortgage.
(6) Mr. Ruiz was paid a salary of $155,262 and a bonus of $144,000 by R&G
Mortgage and was paid $12,000 by the Bank as consulting fees for
services to the Bank's private banking department.
Bonuses are paid by R&G Mortgage and the Bank based upon determinations
by senior management of each company, which determinations are influenced by the
profitability of the enterprise for the year in question. The bonuses of
managers of the R&G Mortgage branches are based in part on loan production
levels, while the bonuses for Bank branch managers are based in part on the
level of deposits, loan production and new accounts. The bonuses of Vice
Presidents and Department Managers are based in part on the final results of the
entity's operations and business generated during the year. The Board of
Directors of R&G Mortgage determine the bonuses for the President and Executive
Vice President, which are based on profitability of that company's operations.
Stock Options
The Company granted stock options to the following executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table during 1999. All options were granted on
June 10, 1999 at an exercise price of $16.125.
Joseph R. Sandoval 12,000
Mario Ruiz 12,000
Roberto Cardova 12,000
13
<PAGE>
Aggregate Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
The following table sets forth, with respect to the executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table, information with respect to the
aggregate amount of options exercised during the last fiscal year, any value
realized thereon, the number of unexercised options at the end of the fiscal
year (exercisable and unexercisable) and the value with respect thereto.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Value of Unexercised
Number of Securities In-The-Money
Underlying Options/SARs Options/SARs
at Fiscal Year End at Fiscal Year End(2)
Shares --------------------------------------------------------------
Acquired
on Value
Name Exercise Realized(2) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Victor Galan -- -- -- -- -- --
Ramon Prats -- -- 216,000 144,000 $1,614,000 $1,076,000
Joseph R. Sandoval -- -- 21,600 26,400 102,900 68,600
Mario Ruiz 10,800 $80,700 - 19,200 - 53,800
Roberto Cordova 10,800 80,700 - 19,200 - 53,800
</TABLE>
- -------------------
(1) Share amounts have been adjusted for the Company's stock dividends and
stock splits.
(2) Based upon a closing market price for the Class B Shares as of December
31, 1999 of $11.50.
Compensation of Directors
Members of the Board of Directors of the Company and R&G Mortgage who
are not also executive officers of such companies receive fees of $650 per Board
meeting attended and $500 per committee meeting attended. Executive officers of
the Company and R&G Mortgage who also serve on the Board of Directors are not
compensated for serving on the Board of Directors or committees thereof.
During fiscal 1999, members of the Board of Directors of the Bank
received fees of $650 per meeting attended. Executive officers of the Bank who
also serve on the Board of Directors are not compensated for their services on
the Board of Directors or committees thereof. Non-officer members of the Board
of Directors of the Bank serving on committees received additional compensation
in the amount of $500 per committee meeting attended in fiscal 1999, except for
members of the Trust Committee, who each received $400 per committee meeting
attended in fiscal 1999.
14
<PAGE>
Benefits
Stock Option Plan. The Company maintains a Stock Option Plan which was
adopted by the Company's stockholder prior to the 1996 initial public offering.
The Stock Option Plan is designed to attract and retain qualified personnel in
key positions, provide officers and key employees with a proprietary interest in
the Company as an incentive to contribute to the success of the Company and
reward key employees for outstanding performance and the attainment of targeted
goals. An amount of Common Stock equal to 10% of the aggregate number of Class B
Shares sold in the Company's initial public offering (869,400 shares, as
adjusted for the Company's stock dividends and splits) were authorized under the
Stock Option Plan, which may be filled by authorized but unissued shares,
treasury shares or shares purchased by the Company on the open market or from
private sources. The Stock Option Plan provides for the grant of stock options
and stock appreciation rights (collectively "Awards"). Awards are available for
grant to key employees of the Company and any subsidiaries. In connection with
the Company's initial public offering, the Company awarded options for 720,000
shares to 28 employees of R&G Mortgage and the Bank, including stock options for
360,000 shares to Ramon Prats as adjusted for the Company's stock dividends and
splits.
Profit Sharing Plan. Effective January 1, 1993, R-G Mortgage and the
Bank adopted the R&G Mortgage Corporation and R-G Federal Savings Bank Profit
Sharing Plan (the "Plan"), which is intended to comply with the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, and the Puerto Rico Income Tax Act of 1954. All employees of R&G
Mortgage and the Bank are eligible to participate in the Plan except, among
others, for those employees who are non-resident aliens. Eligible employees may
enter the Plan on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 following attaining
age 21 and completing one year of service. Under the Plan, a separate account is
established for each participating employee and R&G Mortgage and the Bank may
make discretionary contributions to the Plan which are allocated to employees'
accounts. Employees may also contribute to the Plan by making salary reductions
up to 10% of annual compensation for the year. Such contributions defer the
employee's earning up to a maximum of $8,000 in each plan year. In 1999, R&G
Mortgage and the Bank each matched an employee's contribution to the Plan up to
62.5% of the first 5% of an employee's compensation as follows: 12.5% when an
employee has 0 to 5 years of service, 25% when an employee has 6 to 10 years of
service, 39.5% when an employee has 11 to 15 years of service, 50% when an
employee has 16 to 20 years of service, and 62.5% when an employee has 21 or
more years of service. Employees' contributions to the Plan are immediately
vested, and employees become 100% vested in employer contributions upon the
completion of 5 years of service. All funds contributed to the Plan are held in
a trust fund. R&G Mortgage and the Bank direct the investment of matching and
discretionary contributions and employees direct the investment of elective
contributions and rollover contributions. Contributions may be directed into
four separate funds: a fixed income fund investing in insurance annuity
contracts, the Fidelity Growth Fund, the Fidelity Growth & Income Fund, and the
Fidelity S & P 500 Index Fund.
15
<PAGE>
Distributions from the Plan are made upon termination of service, death, or
disability in a lump sum or installment payments. The normal retirement age
under the Plan is age 65.
Transactions With Certain Related Persons
The operations of R&G Mortgage and the Bank are linked to a material
extent by a series of ancillary agreements which govern the significant
affiliated transactions between the two companies (the "Affiliated Transaction
Agreements"). These agreements have been prepared with a view to compliance with
Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, which require that the terms
and conditions of transactions between a financial institution and an affiliate
be on terms which are substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the
financial institution, as those prevailing for comparable transactions with or
involving other non-affiliated companies.
The Affiliated Transaction Agreements include a Master Purchase,
Servicing and Collections Agreement (the "Master Purchase Agreement"), a Master
Custodian Agreement, a Master Production Agreement, a Securitization Agreement
and a Data Processing Computer Service Agreement (the "Data Processing
Agreement"). In accordance with applicable regulations, the terms of these
agreements were negotiated at arm's length on the basis that they are
substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the Bank, as those
prevailing for comparable transactions with, or involving, other nonaffiliated
companies.
Pursuant to the Master Production Agreement, the Bank, on a monthly
basis, determines its loan production targets and goals (the "Loan Production
Goals") and R&G Mortgage assists the Bank to reach its Loan Production Goals by,
among other things: (i) advertising, promoting and marketing to the general
public; (ii) interviewing prospective borrowers and initial processing of loan
applications, consistent with the Bank's underwriting guidelines and Loan
Production Goals previously established; and (iii) providing personnel and
facilities with respect to the execution of any loan agreement approved by the
Bank. In exchange for these services, the Bank remits to R&G Mortgage a
percentage of the processing or originating fees charged to the borrowers under
loan agreements, as set forth in the agreements.
The Master Purchase Agreement provides for the sale by the Bank to R&G
Mortgage of the servicing rights to all first and second mortgage loans secured
by residential properties which become part of the Bank's loan portfolio. The
Master Purchase Agreement further provides that R&G Mortgage will service all
other loans held in the Bank's loan portfolio (including single- family
residential loans retained by the Bank and certain commercial real estate
loans), although R&G Mortgage does not actually acquire such servicing rights.
The Master Purchase Agreement further provides that R&G Mortgage exclusively
will service such loans and that the Bank will process payments of such loans,
all according to a fee schedule.
16
<PAGE>
Under the Securitization Agreement, R&G Mortgage renders securitization
services with respect to the pooling of some of the Bank's mortgage loans into
mortgage-backed securities. With respect to securitization services rendered,
the Bank pays a securitization fee of 25 basis points. The Master Custodian
Agreement provides that the Bank shall be the custodial agent for R&G Mortgage
of certain documentation related to the issuance by R&G Mortgage of Government
National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), Federal National Mortgage Association
("FNMA") or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC") mortgage-backed
certificates. In consideration of these services, the Bank receives a fee for
each mortgage note included in a mortgage-backed certificate per year for which
it acts as custodian, as set forth in the agreement.
In addition to the affiliated transactions described above, R&G
Mortgage and the Bank are also subject to a Data Processing Agreement, pursuant
to which the Bank provides data processing services to R&G Mortgage with respect
to the loan origination and loan administration of its servicing portfolio. The
Bank charges R&G Mortgage a monthly fee for each R&G Mortgage computer that is
linked to the Bank's main frame computer. R&G Mortgage assumed all of the
expenses associated with modifying the Bank's existing computer programs, the
design of the mortgage loan processing system and for installation of telephone
lines, communications hardware and additional equipment.
R&G Mortgage presently subleases space at eight branch offices of the
Bank where it operates mortgage centers. The activities of the mortgage center
include interviewing prospective borrowers for loans secured by first mortgages
or second mortgages on residential real estate and home equity loans, processing
the initial application for such loans, referring such loan applications to R&G
Mortgage and/or the Bank, and accepting and processing the documentation
necessary to underwrite such mortgage loans. No other lending or banking
activity is conducted by R&G Mortgage on the premises of the Bank. R&G Mortgage
pays the Bank a monthly rental payment, which is based on a pro rata portion of
the main lease obligation.
During the year ended December 31, 1999, VIG Leasing, S.E., a Puerto
Rico real estate partnership which is 95.8% owned by the family of Victor J.
Galan, the Company's Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer, received lease payments from R&G Mortgage and the Bank on properties
owned of $837,000 and $1,095,000, respectively. R&G Mortgage and the Bank
believe that the lease terms are on terms substantially the same as they would
have negotiated with a non-affiliated party.
Under applicable federal law, loans or extensions of credit to
executive officers and directors must be made on substantially the same terms,
including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for
comparable transactions with the general public and must not involve more than
the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.
17
<PAGE>
The Bank's policy provides that all loans made by the Bank to directors
and officers of the Company are made in the ordinary course of business, on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those
prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons. The
Bank's policy provides that such loans may not involve more than the normal risk
of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. As of December 31,
1999, mortgage and consumer loans to directors and executive officers of the
Company in excess of $60,000 aggregated approximately $2,608,000 or 9.68% of the
Company's consolidated stockholders' equity as of such date. All such loans were
made by the Bank in accordance with the aforementioned policy.
In July 1995, R&G Mortgage made a $900,000 construction loan to a real
estate development company owned by Pedro Ramirez, a director of the Company,
R&G Mortgage and the Bank. The subject real estate development project was
scheduled to be completed in phases. At December 31, 1999, the loan had an
outstanding balance of $545,000 at an interest rate of 2% over the prime rate.
The outstanding balance of the loan is related to the second phase of the
construction project. The portion of the loan related to the first phase of the
project was repaid in January 1998.
During the year ended December 31, 1999, Enrique Umpierre-Suarez, a
director and Secretary of each of the Company and the Bank, each provided legal
services to borrowers of the Bank and R&G Mortgage in connection with the
closing of consumer and commercial loans. During the year ended December 31,
1999, Mr. Umpierre-Suarez received $819,000 in fees for such legal services, all
of which were paid for by customers of the Bank and R&G Mortgage in connection
with loan closings.
During the year ended December 31, 1999, R&G Mortgage referred
customers requiring hazard insurance in connection with their mortgage
transactions to Home & Property Insurance Company, an insurance company which
was previously owned by the wife of Pedro Ramirez, a director of the Company,
R&G Mortgage and the Bank. Each customer has the ability to seek insurance
coverage required from an alternative acceptable insurance company of his
choice. During the year ended December 31, 1999, Home & Property Insurance
Company received $811,000 in premiums for writing hazard insurance policies for
R&G Mortgage's customers. In 1997, Mrs. Ramirez sold her 100% equity in Home &
Property Insurance Company, but remains as the President of the Agency until the
purchase price is paid in full.
R&G Mortgage originates first mortgage loans secured by single-family
residential properties which are either insured by the Federal Housing
Administration ("FHA") or guaranteed by the Veterans' Administration ("VA"). R&G
Mortgage pools such FHA/VA loans into mortgage-backed securities which are
guaranteed by the GNMA, which securities are sold to securities broker dealers
and other investors. During the year ended December 31, 1999, R&G Mortgage sold
approximately $625,000 of such GNMA securities to Victor J. Galan, the Chairman
18
<PAGE>
of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Chairman of
the Board of R&G Mortgage and Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Bank, approximately $425,000 GNMA securities to Ramon
Prats, the Vice Chairman of the Board and Executive Vice President of the
Company, director and Executive Vice President of R&G Mortgage and Vice Chairman
of the Board of Directors of the Bank, approximately $550,000 of GNMA securities
to Juan J. Diaz, a director of the Company and R&G Mortgage and former Senior
Vice President of Loan Administration of R&G Mortgage, approximately $216,000 of
GNMA securities to Roberto Cordova, the Senior Vice President of Loan Production
of the R&G Mortgage, approximately $91,000 to Mario Ruiz, the Senior Vice
President - Secondary Market of R&G Mortgage and director and Senior Vice
President of Champion Mortgage, approximately $1,200,000 of GNMA securities to
Enrique Umpierre-Suarez, a director and Secretary of each of the Company and the
Bank and approximately $25,000 to Benigno Fernandez, a director of the Company,
R&G Mortgage and the Bank.
Executive Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
The Executive Committee of the Company's Board of Directors reviews the
compensation and benefits for the Company's employees and recommends to the
Board adjustments in such compensation. During fiscal 1999, the members of the
Executive Committee were Messrs. Victor J. Galan (Chairman), Prats (Vice
Chairman), McCormack, and Victor L. Galan. Mr. Victor J. Galan does not
participate in the Committee's consideration of his own compensation.
The report of the Executive Committee with respect to compensation for
the President and Chief Executive Officer and all other executive officers for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 is set forth below:
Report of the Executive Committee on Executive Compensation
The purpose of the Committee qualified, competent management;
motivating executives to achieve a range of performance goals consistent with a
business plan approved by the Board of Directors of the Company; and insuring
that the financial costs of current or proposed compensation and benefit
programs are reasonable and consistent with industry standards, management
performance and shareholders' interest.
The Committee considered the following criteria in recommending to the
Board the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer as well as the approval of
compensation of other executive officers of the Company and its subsidiaries:
1. The overall financial, market and competitive performance of
the Company and its subsidiaries during the fiscal year under
consideration after adjusting for economic conditions
occurring during the year.
19
<PAGE>
2. The level of and/or increases in return on assets and return
on equity without encouraging short-term profitability through
unreasonable risk-taking or a deterioration of long-term asset
quality.
3. Consideration of individual as well as combined measures of
progress of the Company and its subsidiaries including the
quality of the loan portfolio, the level of the changes in
capital ratios, the overall growth of the Bank and R&G
Mortgage, the improvement in market share, the improvement in
book value per share, the improvement in earnings per share,
the level of non-performing loans and real estate owned,
efficiency ratio levels as compared to peer groups and other
objectives as may be established by the Board of Directors of
the Company.
4. The individual commitment of the Chief Executive Officer
relative to overall management efficiency, inspirational
leadership, professional involvement, civic activities and the
maintenance of corporate stature enhancing the image of the
Company and it subsidiaries in their market place.
5. The compensation and benefit levels of comparable positions to
peer group institutions within the financial services
industry, and similar asset and operating characteristics with
a concentration on those institutions operating in Puerto
Rico.
The compensation arrangements and recommendations of the Committee
include a base salary and a bonus component if the Executive's performance is
judged to warrant such a bonus.
The base compensation of Victor J. Galan, President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and the Bank, was established at $341,759 on January 1,
1999. Mr. Galan's compensation level, determined consistent with the before
mentioned criteria, was based on an examination of four peer group comparisons
relative to salary and bonus compensation for Chief Executive Officers. Mr.
Galan's performance is measured by the profit, capital position, asset quality
and the low ratio of operating expenses of the Company, the Bank and R&G
Mortgage, as well as the other measures of executive compensation so noted in
determining his specific compensation. Mr. Galan was given a bonus of $200,200
for his service during 1999 based on his overall performance as well as other
activities which ensued during the course of the year.
With respect to the other executive officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries, the Committee considered salary and bonus recommendations prepared
by the Chief Executive Officer to establish 1999 compensation. The salary
adjustment recommendation and bonus was based on the Company's overall
performance in the past year as well as an analysis of competitive compensation
levels necessary to maintain and attract quality personnel.
20
<PAGE>
Following extensive review and approval by the Committee, all issues
pertaining to executive compensation were submitted to the full Board of
Directors for their approval. Mr. Victor J. Galan does not participate in the
review of his compensation.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Victor J. Galan, Chairman
Ramon Prats, Vice Chairman
Eduardo McCormack
Victor L. Galan
21
<PAGE>
Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total return on the Class B
Shares over a measurement period since the Company's offering and issuance of
Class B Shares in August 1996 with (i) the cumulative total return on the stocks
included in the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("Nasdaq") Total Return Index (for United States companies) and (ii)
the cumulative total return on the stocks included in the Nasdaq Total Return
Index for Financial Stocks (for United States and foreign companies). All of
these cumulative returns are computed assuming the reinvestment of dividends at
the frequency with which dividends were paid during the period.
[GRAPHIC - GRAPH PLOTTED POINTS LISTED BELOW]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDING
Index 8/22/96 12/31/96 6/30/97 12/31/97 6/30/98 12/31/98 6/30/99 12/31/99
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
R&G Financial Corporation 100.00 164.85 182.77 245.76 486.53 539.56 438.56 299.77
NASDAQ Total U.S. 100.00 112.94 126.40 138.59 194.38 182.39 238.54 354.22
NASDAQ - Financial 100.00 116.09 141.02 178.16 182.72 171.45 190.12 170.20
Companies
</TABLE>
The above graph represents $100 invested in the Company's initial
public offering of the Class B Shares on August 22, 1996 at $4.03 per share (as
adjusted for the 1997 80% stock dividend and the two-for-one stock split paid in
1998). The Class B Shares commenced trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market on August
22, 1996.
22
<PAGE>
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
The Board of Directors of the Company has appointed
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent certified public accountants, to perform
the audit of the Company's financial statements for the year ending December 31,
2000, and further directed that the selection of auditors be submitted for
ratification by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
The Company has been advised by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP that neither
that firm nor any of its associates has any relationship with the Company or its
subsidiaries other than the usual relationship that exists between independent
certified public accountants and clients. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will have
one or more representatives at the Annual Meeting who will have an opportunity
to make a statement, if they so desire, and who will be available to respond to
appropriate questions.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the ratification
of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any proposal which a stockholder wishes to have included in the proxy
materials of the Company relating to the next annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company, which currently is scheduled to be held in April 2001, must be
received at the principal executive offices of the Company, R-G Plaza, 280 Jesus
T. Pinero Avenue, Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, Attention: Enrique
Umpierre-Suarez, Secretary, no later than December 5, 2000.
Stockholder proposals which are not submitted for inclusion in the
Company's proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act may be
brought before an annual meeting pursuant to Article II, Section 2.14. of the
Company's Bylaws, which provides that business at an annual meeting of
stockholders must be (a) properly brought before the meeting by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, or (b) otherwise properly brought before
the meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice
thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the
principal executive offices of the Company not later than 90 days prior to the
anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company. No such proposals were received. Such stockholder's notice is
required to set forth certain information specified in the Articles. To be
timely with respect to the next annual meeting to be held in April 2001, a
stockholder's notice must be received by the Secretary of the Company no later
than January 26, 2001.
23
<PAGE>
ANNUAL REPORTS
A copy of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year
ended December 31, 1999 accompanies this Proxy Statement. Such annual report is
not part of the proxy solicitation materials.
Upon receipt of a written request, the Company will furnish to any
stockholder without charge a copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for fiscal 1999 required to be filed under the Exchange Act. Such written
requests should be directed to Secretary, R&G Financial Corporation, R-G Plaza,
280 Jesus T. Pinero Avenue, Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico 99018. The Form 10-K
is not part of the proxy solicitation materials.
OTHER MATTERS
Management is not aware of any business to come before the Annual
Meeting other than the matters described above in this Proxy Statement. However,
if any matters should properly come before the meeting other than those which
are described in this Proxy Statement, it is intended that the proxies solicited
hereby will be voted with respect to those other matters in accordance with the
judgment of the persons voting the proxies.
The cost of the solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company.
The Company will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred by them in sending the proxy
materials to the beneficial owners of the Company's Common Stock. In addition to
solicitations by mail, directors, officers and employees of the Company may
solicit proxies personally or by telephone without additional compensation.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ Victor J. Galan
--------------------
Victor J. Galan
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
24
<PAGE>
REVOCABLE PROXY
R&G FINANCIAL CORPORATION
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF R&G
FINANCIAL CORPORATION ("COMPANY") FOR USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 26, 2000 AND AT ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.
The undersigned being a stockholder of the Company as of April 3, 2000,
hereby authorizes the Board of Directors of the Company or any successors
thereto as proxies, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Company to be held at The Bankers Club of Puerto Rico, 208
Munoz Rivera Ave., PH Floor, Hato Rey, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918, on
Wednesday, April 26, 2000 at 10:00 a.m., and at any adjournments of said
meeting, and thereat to act with respect to all votes that the undersigned would
be entitled to cast, if then personally present, as follows:
(Continued and to be signed on reverse side.)
<PAGE>
Please Detach and Mail in the Envelope Provided
[ X ] Please mark your
votes as in this
example
WITHHOLD
FOR AUTHORITY
1. ELECTION OF [ ] [ ] Nominees: For a three year term:
DIRECTORS Gilberto Rivera-Arreaga
Ileana M. Colon-Carlo
NOTE: To withhold authority to vote for Roberto Gorbea
an individual nominee, strike a line Laureno Carus-Abarca
through that nominee's name. Unless
authority to vote for all of the foregoing
nominees is withheld, this Proxy will be
deemed to confer authority to vote for
each nominee whose name is not struck.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
2. Proposal to ratify the appointment by [ ] [ ] [ ]
the Board of Directors of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the
Company's independent auditors for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2000.
3. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED. IF
RETURNED BUT NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' NOMINEES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOR RATIFICATION
OF THE COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS AND OTHERWISE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE
PROXIES. YOU MAY REVOKE THIS PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE TIME IT IS VOTED AT
THE ANNUAL MEETING.
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Signature of Shareholder Signature of Shareholder Dated
- ------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------
NOTE: Please sign the exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this proxy. When
signing in a representative capacity, please give full title. When
shares are held jointly, only one holder need sign.
