<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-11(c) or 240.14a-12
HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(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):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] 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
previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE> 2
[HAWTHORNE LOGO]
HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
2381 Rosecrans Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90245
---------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 21, 1997
---------------
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Hawthorne Financial Corporation ("Company"), to be held at the Radisson Plaza
Hotel at 1400 Parkview Avenue, Manhattan Beach, California, on May 21, 1997, at
10:00 a.m., local time, for the following purposes:
1. To elect 9 directors to serve until the next Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified.
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 4, 1997
as the record date for determining stockholders of Hawthorne Financial
Corporation entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any
postponement or adjournment thereof.
WE HOPE YOU WILL ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING IN PERSON IF IT IS
CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO DO SO. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
YOU SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD IN THE ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT FOR THE TRANSACTION OF
BUSINESS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ JAMES D. SAGE
James D. Sage
Senior Vice President
and Corporate Secretary
April 21, 1997
<PAGE> 3
HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
2381 Rosecrans Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90245
--------------
PROXY STATEMENT
---------------
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This Proxy Statement is being sent to you in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Hawthorne Financial
Corporation ("Company") to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Company to be held on May 21, 1997, and at any postponement or adjournment
thereof (the "Annual Meeting"). The approximate date of mailing of this Proxy
Statement is April 21, 1997.
The expenses of this proxy solicitation will be paid by the Company.
The original mail solicitation may be supplemented by telephone, telegram,
facsimile transmission or personal solicitation. The Company will also request
record holders of shares beneficially owned by others to send proxy material to
the beneficial owners of such shares and will reimburse such holders for their
reasonable expenses incurred in doing so.
VOTING
The Board of Directors of the Company has selected April 4, 1997 as the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to
vote at the meeting. As of that date, there were outstanding 2,629,275 shares of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), the only outstanding
class of voting securities. Holders of shares of the Common Stock are entitled
to cast one vote for each share held as of the record date. Stockholders will
also have the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors, which means
that stockholders may give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number
of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of shares held, or to
distribute those votes on the same principle among any number of the candidates.
All proxies which are properly completed, signed and delivered to the
Company prior to the Annual Meeting, and not revoked, will be voted in
accordance with the instructions indicated thereon by the stockholders giving
such proxies. Each proxy received without specific directions indicated thereon
will be voted FOR the election of the nominees named in this proxy statement, or
as many of such nominees as may be elected, as directors of the Company. The
proxies solicited hereby confer authority on the proxy holders named therein to
cumulate votes in the election of directors among the nominees for whom such
proxies may be voted in such manner as they deem appropriate to elect the
maximum possible number of such nominees. Each proxy delivered may be revoked by
the stockholder who executed it at any time before it is voted by filing written
notice of revocation, which may consist of a later dated proxy, with the
Secretary of the Company prior to the vote on the matters described herein or by
attending the meeting and voting in person.
A majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, represented in
person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Abstentions will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote for
purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but as unvoted for purposes of
determining the approval of any matter submitted for a vote of the stockholders.
If a broker indicates on the proxy that the broker does not have discretionary
authority to vote on a particular matter as to certain shares, those shares will
be counted for general quorum purposes but will not be considered as present and
entitled to vote with respect to that matter.
The Board of Directors does not know of any business to be presented
for action at the meeting other than that stated herein. If any other business
is properly presented at the meeting and may properly be voted upon, the proxies
solicited hereby will be voted on such matters in accordance with the best
judgment of the proxy holders named therein.
<PAGE> 4
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
A board of nine directors will be nominated and elected at the Annual
Meeting to serve on the Board of Directors of the Company for the ensuing year
and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The table below sets
forth certain information regarding the persons nominated by the Board of
Directors for election as directors. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HEREBY SOLICITS
PROXIES FROM THE HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK TO ELECT THESE NOMINEES
AS DIRECTORS.
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the
nominees, each of whom is currently on the Board of Directors of the Company.
Each nominee has indicated his or her willingness to serve if elected in 1997.
If any nominee is unable to serve, an event the Board does not anticipate, the
person named in the accompanying proxy will vote for such replacement nominees
as the Board of Directors of the Company shall select. Each of the directors of
the Company is also a director of Hawthorne Savings, F.S.B. (the "Bank"), a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF COMMON PERCENTAGE OF
DIRECTOR STOCK BENEFICIALLY OUTSTANDING
NAME AGE SINCE OWNED(1) COMMON STOCK
- ------------------------- ------ -------- ------------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Marilyn Garton Amato 57 1988 9,962 0.38%
Scott A. Braly 43 1993 119,651(3)(4) 4.43%(3)(4)
Timothy R. Chrisman 50 1994 13,500 0.51%
R. Michael Hall(2) 61 1996 -- --
Charles S. Jacobs 59 1991 53,805 2.05%
Anthony W. Liberati(2) 64 1996 -- --
Harry F. Radcliffe(2) 46 1996 -- --
Howard E. Ritt 72 1993 1,500 0.06%
Robert C. Troost 50 1979 9,300 0.35%
</TABLE>
- -----------------
(1) As of April 4, 1997. See the introduction to the table on page 5,
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT,
regarding the determination of beneficial ownership.
(2) In December 1995, the Company sold $27.0 million of "investment
units" in a private placement offering (the "Offering") at a price
of $500,000 per unit. Each investment unit consisted of $250,000
principal amount of the Company's senior notes ("Senior Notes"),
five shares of the Company's cumulative preferred stock, series A
("Series A Preferred"), and one warrant to purchase 44,000 shares
of the Company's Common Stock ("Warrants"). Pursuant to an
agreement entered into in connection with the Offering, each of the
three largest purchasers of investment units is entitled to
recommend one person for nomination by the Board of Directors for
election as a director. Pursuant to these rights, Fort Pitt Fund,
L.P. recommended Harry F. Radcliffe, Value Partners, Ltd.
recommended R. Michael Hall, and Lee M. Bass recommended Anthony W.
Liberati. The right of these purchasers to nominate a director
terminates at the time the purchaser no longer owns a specified
level of investment units.
(3) Includes 70,667 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon
the exercise of options within 60 days of April 4, 1997. Mr. Braly
also has options to purchase 141,333 shares and Warrants for
105,600 shares which are not exercisable within 60 days of April 4,
1997.
(4) Includes 48,135 shares held of record by the Hawthorne Savings,
F.S.B. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP") which have not
been allocated to participants' accounts, and with respect to which
Messrs. Braly, Hardin and Morales, as trustees of the ESOP, have
voting power.
-2-
<PAGE> 5
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Marilyn Garton Amato has owned and operated for more than the past five
years an interior design firm, The Finishing Touch, that specializes in both
commercial and residential interior design. She has also been active in many
civic and charitable groups over the years and is the daughter of Dr. Cecil O.
Garton, a past director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company
and a director of the Bank.
Scott A. Braly has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of
the Company and the Bank since July 1993. Mr. Braly served as a director of, and
a consultant to, Citadel Holding Corporation, a savings and loan holding
company, and its subsidiary company, Fidelity Federal Bank from April 1992 to
July 1993. Mr. Braly was President and Chief Executive Officer of Valley Federal
Savings and Loan Association from April 1990 to April 1992.
Timothy R. Chrisman has been the President and owner of Chrisman &
Company, Inc., an executive search firm specializing in the placement of senior
executives in the financial services industry for more than the past five years.
Mr. Chrisman has previously served as a director of other savings institutions.
In February 1996, Mr. Chrisman was named Chairman of the Board of the Company
and the Bank.
R. Michael Hall has been the Chief Executive Officer of The Troy
Investment Fund for more than the past five years. The Troy Investment Fund is a
real estate limited partnership. Mr. Hall has also been the Chief Executive
Officer of Wellington Pacific Corporation and the corporate general partner of
The Troy Investment Fund since 1982.
Charles S. Jacobs has served as President of Dionysos Inc., a franchise
of Midas International Corporation, for more than the past five years. Mr.
Jacobs is also managing general partner of Charles Jacobs Investments, a
developer of California real estate. Mr. Jacobs is the son of Mrs. Hilma Jacobs
Hill, a past director of the Bank.
Anthony W. Liberati has been retired since 1995. At the time of his
retirement, Mr. Liberati was the Chief Operating Officer of Edward J. DeBartolo
Corporation, Youngstown, Ohio. Prior to his appointment as Chief Operating
Officer, he was the DeBartolo Corporation's Chief Financial Officer. Mr.
Liberati is a former member of the Board of Directors of DeBartolo Realty
Corporation, Youngstown, Ohio, a real estate investment trust.
Harry F. Radcliffe has been President, Chief Executive Officer and a
Director of First Home Bancorp, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, since March 1993
and became President and Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary First Home
Savings Bank, F.S.B., in December 1993 and a director since May 1993. He
previously served as a director and President of FirstSouth Savings Association
from April 1989 to December 1993, and as its Chief Executive Officer from June
1989 to December 1993 and Director, President and Chief Executive Officer from
May 1990 to December 1993. He also served as director of Home Bancorp, Inc. and
Home Savings Bank, F.S.B., Norfolk, Virginia from October 1994 to September
1995. Mr. Radcliffe is a director of Essex Savings Bank, F.S.B., Virginia Beach,
Virginia.
Howard E. Ritt retired in 1990 as an Executive Vice President of Sanwa
Bank.
Robert C. Troost has been for more than the past five years the
President of I. & T. Corp., the parent holding company of Arizona Granite &
Marble, a wholesale and retail manufacturer of monuments located in Phoenix,
Arizona.
-3-
<PAGE> 6
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS; BOARD COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors of the Company held six meetings in 1996. All
directors attended at least 75% of the number of meetings held by the Board or
any Company committee.
Each non-employee director of the Company and the Bank receives an
annual retainer fee of $15,000 and a fee of $1,000 for each meeting attended.
The Chairman of the Board receives an additional fee of $1,500 per meeting. The
Chairmen of the Audit, Credit and Compensation Committees also receive $500 per
meeting. Individuals who are directors of both the Company and the Bank receive
only the above described fees for their combined service.
In February 1996, Richard Giles retired as Chairman and as a director
from the Boards of the Company and the Bank. Concurrent therewith, Mr. Giles was
elected Chairman Emeritus of the Company, which is a consultative, non-voting
position. Mr. Giles will serve in this capacity through December 1997 and will
receive his pre-retirement compensation through such date, which amount
approximates $45,000 per year.
The Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank have established
various committees, to which delegated authorities have been granted, consistent
with each committee's charter. The Board committees which were active during
1996 included (1) a Compensation Committee, which acts on behalf of both the
Boards of Directors of the Company and the Bank, (2) an Audit Committee of the
Bank, and (3) a Credit Committee of the Bank. In January 1997, the Board of
Directors of the Company established a Capital Committee. The Company and the
Bank have no other Board-level committees. The Compensation Committee consists
solely of non-management directors of the Company and the Bank, and includes
Messrs. Troost (Chairman), Hall, Liberati and Ritt. The Audit Committee of the
Bank consists solely of non-management directors of the Bank, and includes
Messrs. Ritt (Chairman), Chrisman, Hall and Ritt. The Credit Committee of the
Bank, which was established in August 1996 and consists of a majority of
non-management directors, consists of Messrs. Hall (Chairman), Braly, Liberati
and Radcliffe.
The Compensation Committee maintains delegated responsibility to (1)
provide oversight with respect to the Company's and the Bank's compensation
policies, benefits and practices, (2) approve or disapprove management's
recommendations with respect to the compensation of senior managers, including
salaries and bonuses, and all stock option grants and any accelerated vesting in
connection therewith, and (3) provide oversight for management planning and
succession. The Compensation Committee met four times in 1996.
The Audit Committee maintains delegated responsibility to (1) provide
oversight to the Bank's internal audit group, including approving the annual
internal audit plan and monitoring individual audits and the reporting thereon
by the internal audit group, and (2) meet periodically with the Company's and
the Bank's independent accounting firm, including reviewing the results of the
annual audit and any findings of the accountants in connection therewith. The
Audit Committee met ten times in 1996.
The Credit Committee of the Bank maintains delegated responsibility to
(1) provide oversight with respect to the Bank's lending activities, including
the Bank's lending organization, resourcing and scope of activities, and (2)
pre-approve certain individual loan transactions prior to their funding,
currently including individual loan transactions in excess of $6 million. The
Credit Committee met three times in 1996.
The Capital Committee of the Company has delegated responsibility to
(1) periodically assess the Company's and the Bank's capital structure and to
make recommendations to the full Board with respect thereto, and (2) select
professional advisors to the Company with respect to individual capital-related
transactions, including investment banking firms and securities counsel.
-4-
<PAGE> 7
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth as of April 4, 1997, certain information
(i) regarding the ownership of the Common Stock by each person known by the
Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of
the Common Stock, (ii) regarding the ownership of the Common Stock and the
Series A Preferred by (a) each executive officer named in the Summary
Compensation Table in this Proxy Statement and (b) all of the Company's
executive officers and directors as a group. Except as may be indicated in the
footnotes to the table and subject to applicable community property laws, each
of such persons has the sole voting and investment power with respect to the
shares owned. Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule
13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Under this Rule,
certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one person
(such as where persons share voting power or investment power). In addition,
shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if the person has the
right to acquire the shares (for example, upon exercise of an option) within 60
days of the date as of which information is provided; in computing the
percentage ownership of any person, the amount of shares outstanding is deemed
to included the amount of shares beneficially owned by such person (and only
such person) by reason of these acquisition rights. As a result, the percentage
of outstanding shares of any person as shown in the following table does not
necessarily reflect the person's actual voting power at any particular date.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SERIES A
COMMON STOCK PREFERRED STOCK
--------------------------------- ----------------------------
BENEFICIALLY PERCENT BENEFICIALLY PERCENT
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNED OF CLASS OWNED OF CLASS
- ---------------------------------------------------- ------------ -------- ------------ --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc.(1) 158,600 6.03%
Dr. Cecil O. Garton(2) 142,000 5.40%
Scott A. Braly(3)(4) 119,651 4.43% 12 4.44%
David L. Hardin, Jr.(4)(5) 65,880 2.49% 2 0.74%
Norman A. Morales(4)(6) 52,923 2.01% 2 0.74%
James D. Sage(7) 11,581 0.44%
Thomas Hylton 724 0.03%
All directors and Executive Officers
as a group (13 persons)(4)(8) 242,556 8.88% 16 5.92%
</TABLE>
- ------------------
(1) This information is based on the Schedule 13G, Amendment No. 3,
dated February 7, 1997, filed by Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc., a
Delaware investment advisor registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940 ("Dimensional") that is deemed to have
beneficial ownership of 158,600 shares of Common Stock as of
December 31, 1996. The Schedule 13G indicates that these shares are
held in portfolios of DFA Investment Dimensions Group Inc., a
registered open-end investment company, or in series of the DFA
Investment Trust Company, or the DFA Group Trust and DFA
Participation Group Trust, investment vehicles for qualified
employee benefit plans. Dimensional serves as investment manager
for each of these entities. Dimensional disclaims beneficial
ownership of all such shares, and has a business address at 1299
Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor, Santa Monica, CA 90401.
(2) This information is based on the SEC Form 5 filing dated January 9,
1997, filed by Dr. Garton reporting direct ownership of 142,000
shares.
(3) Includes 70,667 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon
the exercise of options within 60 days of April 4, 1997. Mr. Braly
also has options to purchase 141,333 shares and Warrants for
105,600 shares which are not exercisable within 60 days of April 4,
1997.
(4) Shares beneficially owned by Messrs. Braly, Hardin and Morales: (i)
include 48,135 shares held of record by the ESOP which have not
been allocated to participants' accounts, and with respect to which
Messrs. Braly, Hardin and Morales, as trustees of the ESOP, have
voting power, and (ii) do not include 78,116 and 18,929 shares held
of record by the ESOP and the 401(k) Plan, respectively, which have
been allocated to participants' accounts and which are voted by the
trustees at the direction of the participants or, if no direction
is given, by the trustees in their discretion.
(5) Includes 17,000 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon
the exercise of options within 60 days of April 4, 1997. Mr. Hardin
also has options to purchase 48,000 shares and Warrants for 17,600
shares which are not exercisable within 60 days of April 4, 1997.
-5-
<PAGE> 8
(6) Includes 4,000 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon
the exercise of options within 60 days of April 4, 1997. Mr.
Morales also has options to purchase 48,000 shares and Warrants for
17,600 shares which are not exercisable within 60 days of April 4,
1997.
(7) Includes 10,000 shares of Common Stock which may be acquired upon
the exercise of options within 60 days of April 4, 1997. Mr. Sage
also has options to purchase 14,000 shares which are not
exercisable within 60 days of April 4, 1997.
(8) Includes 101,667 shares which are acquirable by stock options
exercisable within 60 days of April 4, 1997, and 48,135 shares held
of record by the ESOP with respect to which Messrs. Braly, Hardin
and Morales, as trustees of the ESOP, have voting power.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Chief
Executive Officer and the four other highest paid executive officers of the
Company and the Bank during 1996, and compensation paid to those persons during
the two prior years.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
------------
ANNUAL
COMPENSATION AWARDS
------------------------- ------------
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
NAME AND POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS (1) OPTIONS/SARs COMPENSATION(5)
- ------------------------- ---- -------- ----------- ------------ ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Scott A. Braly 1996 $250,000 $ -- -- $ 4,917
Chief Executive Officer 1995 250,000 159,479 212,000 --
and President 1994 250,000 121,750 -- --
Thomas Hylton 1996 $120,000 $ 60,000(2) -- $ 1,800
Senior Vice President 1995 105,000 47,138(3) 26,000 --
1994 101,000 49,250 -- --
David L. Hardin, Jr 1996 $175,000 $ -- -- $ 3,938
Executive Vice President 1995 160,000 74,500 72,000 --
1994 160,000 55,000 -- --
Norman A. Morales 1996 $175,000 $ -- -- $ 3,938
Executive Vice President 1995 137,500 72,000 72,000 50,000(4)
1994 -- -- -- --
James D. Sage 1996 $140,000 $ 24,500 -- $ 4,561
Senior Vice President 1995 125,000 41,250(3) 27,000 --
1994 125,000 34,189 -- --
</TABLE>
- ------------------
(1) Amounts were earned in the years indicated. Bonuses were paid in
the year earned or in the first quarter of the following year.
(2) In 1996, Mr. Hylton forfeited options to purchase 26,000 shares of
Common Stock, which were granted in 1995, in exchange for cash
bonuses.
(3) Includes $5,500 representing the fair market value of 1,000 shares
on October 24, 1995, the date which the stock grant was awarded.
(4) Mr. Morales was hired in February 1995. Upon his hiring, Mr.
Morales received a sign-on bonus of $50,000 which is included in
All Other Compensation.
(5) All Other Compensation in 1996 is comprised solely of 401(k)
matching contributions made by the Company for the benefit of the
Chief Executive Officer and each of the named executive officers.
-6-
<PAGE> 9
RETIREMENT PLANS
The Company has an ESOP which was amended in 1996 to include a 401(k)
Plan. Employees of the Company who were either (i) employed by the Company on
March 1, 1996, or (ii) at least 21 years of age, employed by the Company for six
months and worked at least 500 hours are eligible to participate in the
Company's ESOP. Under the ESOP, the Company makes a matching contribution of
Common Stock equal to 100% of the amount each participant elects to defer up to
a maximum of 3% of the participant's compensation for the calendar quarter. In
1996, the Company contributed 19,132 shares of Common Stock representing the
Company's match under the ESOP.
The Company has a retirement income plan ("Retirement Plan") that
previously covered substantially all employees over 21 years of age who met
minimum service requirements. The Company did not have an accumulated
post-retirement benefit obligation associated with the Retirement Plan as of
December 31, 1996, as the assets of the Retirement Plan exceeded the vested
benefits of participants. At that date, participant's benefits were fixed at
their levels as of May 1989 and no additional participants have been added to
the Retirement Plan since May 1989. The Company has terminated the Retirement
Plan and expects to complete liquidation of its assets during 1997.
STOCK OPTIONS
The Company maintains two stock options plans ( the "Option Plans"),
pursuant to which the Company may grant to executives and to other key employees
stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 755,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock. As of December 31, 1996, stock options to purchase a total of
732,000 shares had been granted, stock options to purchase 46,000 shares had
been forfeited, and stock options to purchase 686,000 shares remained
outstanding under the Option Plans.
OPTION GRANTS LAST FISCAL YEAR
During 1996, stock options to purchase 36,000 shares were granted
pursuant to the Option Plans, none of which were granted to executive officers.
-7-
<PAGE> 10
FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES UNDERLYING VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS/SARS AT IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS/SARS
FISCAL YEAR-END (#) AT FISCAL YEAR-END ($)
NAME EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE(1)
- -------------------- ------------------------------- -----------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Scott A. Braly 70,667 / 141,333 $245,921 / $491,839
Thomas Hylton(2) 0 / 0 $ - / $ -
David L. Hardin, Jr 24,000 / 48,000 $ 83,520 / $167,040
Norman A. Morales 24,000 / 48,000 $ 83,520 / $167,040
James D. Sage 13,000 / 14,000 $ 37,310 / $ 40,180
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Based on the closing sale price of $8.13 for the Common Stock on
December 31, 1996.
(2) In 1996, Mr. Hylton forfeited options to purchase 26,000 shares of
Common Stock, which were granted in 1995, in exchange for cash
bonuses.
REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank, principally as
delegated to the Compensation Committee ("Committee"), (1) have oversight
responsibility for the Company's and Bank's compensation and benefits policies
and practices, (2) are required to review and approve or disapprove management's
recommendations concerning the compensation of senior officers (i.e., those with
the title of Senior Vice President and above), all stock option grants and the
payment of bonuses (in the aggregate), and (3) have oversight responsibility for
management planning and succession. Where appropriate and necessary, the
Committee has retained an independent compensation consultant to assist it in
the exercise of its responsibilities, including the development of compensation
plans and the propriety of the Company's and the Bank's compensation policies
and practices with those of comparable companies.
Mr. Braly and the Committee have established a framework within which
the Bank provides cash and non-cash compensation to Bank's managers. During
1995, roughly concurrent with the recapitalization of the Company and the Bank,
the Company granted stock options to all of the Bank's principal managers. These
stock option grants were made with the understanding that cash bonuses would not
be paid during 1996 to the recipients of stock option grants. Accordingly, none
of these individuals received cash bonuses during 1996 in connection with their
employment by the Company during 1996. With respect to all other employees, the
Bank maintains a performance-based, cash bonus program, under which individuals
may earn annual cash bonuses based upon individual, group and Bank-wide
performance.
COMPENSATION OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Mr. Braly was hired by the Company and the Bank in July 1993.
Concurrent with his hiring, the Company and Mr. Braly entered into an employment
contract, which provided that Mr. Braly would receive (1) an annual base salary
of $250,000, (2) an annual cash bonus of up to $100,000, based upon performance
(though no specific performance measures were defined therein), and (3) a stock
option grant for 100,000 shares with an exercise price equal to the then fair
market price of the Company's Common Stock (i.e., $14.75 per share).
Because of the Company's and the Bank's severe financial difficulties
during the period 1993 through 1995, all of which emanated from the loans
originated by the Bank under prior management, and in order to maintain Mr.
Braly's services, the Directors waived the $100,000 annual limitation on cash
bonuses, though the payment of cash bonuses to Mr. Braly continued to be tied to
the overall performance of the Company and the Bank during the period 1993
through 1995 (though with no further exposition with respect to specific
performance criteria).
As further described above, roughly concurrent with the Company's
successful Offering in December 1995, Mr. Braly and the Committee determined to
modify the manner in which the Bank's key employees, including Mr. Braly, were
compensated. During the period 1993 through 1995, the Company's and the Bank's
financial difficulties warranted the payment of substantial cash compensation to
key employees, including Mr. Braly, in order to (1)
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<PAGE> 11
maintain management continuity and (2) provide key managers with the ability to
earn substantial cash bonuses, tied to individual, group and Company-wide
performance, in part to compensate them for the significant uncertainty which
surrounded the Company's then ability to continue as a going concern.
In recognition of his contribution to the Company's and Bank's
recapitalization, the Board of Directors granted Mr. Braly options to purchase
212,000 shares of Common Stock in November 1995, which vest ratably over three
years from the grant date. The grant was intended to ensure that Mr. Braly's
total compensation was further aligned with the interests of the Company's
stockholders and provide Mr. Braly with a reasonable incentive to continue with
the Company and the Bank. Concurrent with the completion of the Offering, and at
Mr. Braly's request, the Committee canceled Mr. Braly's employment contract. The
Committee also decided to maintain Mr. Braly's base compensation at $250,000 per
year.
To date, the Committee has not established specific performance
criteria with which to measure Mr. Braly's annual performance. However, the
Committee believes that, as the Company's past financial difficulties continue
to recede in prominence and as implementation of the Company's current
strategies becomes more visible in the Company's reported results, specific
performance measures for Mr. Braly may be developed and incorporated into the
Committee's annual review of his performance and compensation.
1996 COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Robert C. Troost, Chairman
R. Michael Hall
Anthony W. Liberati
Howard E. Ritt
This report shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any
general statement incorporating this Proxy Statement by reference into any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates this
information by reference and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such
Acts.
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<PAGE> 12
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Set forth below is a line graph comparing the yearly percentage change
in the cumulative total stockholder return on the Common Stock against the
cumulative total return of the Nasdaq market index and the SNL Securities
Western Thrift index for publicly traded savings institution holding companies
for the period beginning January 1, 1992 and ended December 31, 1996.
COMPARISON OF FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE RETURN AMONG HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL
CORPORATION, NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND SNL SECURITIES WESTERN THRIFT INDEX
[PERFORMANCE GRAPH]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Period Ending
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Index 12/31/91 12/31/92 12/31/93 12/31/94 12/31/95 12/31/96
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Hawthorne Financial Corporation 100.00 165.61 65.77 38.69 38.69 62.87
NASDAQ Total Return 100.00 116.38 133.60 130.59 184.67 227.16
Thrifts (Western) 100.00 108.80 113.87 96.81 161.60 206.02
</TABLE>
This information shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any
general statement incorporating this Proxy Statement by reference into any
filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates this
information by reference and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such
Acts.
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<PAGE> 13
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors of the Company has selected Deloitte & Touche
LLP, certified public accountants, to audit the consolidated financial
statements of the Company for the year ending December 31, 1997. A
representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions. The
representative will be given the opportunity to make a statement if the
representative wishes to do so.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Based solely on its review of copies of reports filed by reporting
persons of the Company pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or written representations from
reporting persons that no form 5 filing was required for such person, the
Company believes that all filings required to be made by reporting persons of
the Company were timely made in accordance with requirements of the Exchange
Act.
STOCKHOLDERS' PROPOSALS FOR 1998 ANNUAL MEETING
All proposals of stockholders intended to be presented for
consideration at the next annual meeting must be received by the Company no
later than December 19, 1997 for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and
form of proxy relating to the next annual meeting.
THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE EACH STOCKHOLDER FREE OF CHARGE, UPON WRITTEN
REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY AT THE COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
OFFICES, AN ADDITIONAL COPY OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FORM 10-K, WITHOUT EXHIBITS. THE COMPANY
WILL FURNISH A COPY OF THE EXHIBITS TO ITS FORM 10-K TO ANY STOCKHOLDERS UPON
REQUEST AND PAYMENT OF A COPYING CHARGE OF ($.25) PER PAGE. REQUESTS SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED TO:
Hawthorne Financial Corporation
Attn: Investor Relations
2381 Rosecrans Avenue
El Segundo, CA 90245
By Order of the Board of Directors
/s/ JAMES D. SAGE
James D. Sage
Senior Vice President
and Corporate Secretary
April 21, 1997
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<PAGE> 14
PROXY
HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2
The undersigned hereby appoints Scott A. Braly, with full power of substitution,
to act as the lawful proxy and agent of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of Hawthorne Financial Corporation (the "Company"), to be held on
May 21, 1997, or any adjournment thereof, for the purpose of voting on the
matters referred to below, to represent the undersigned and to vote all shares
of Common Stock of the Company that the undersigned would be entitled to vote if
personally present at such Annual Meeting as indicated below:
(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE.)
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- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
<PAGE> 15
Please mark your votes as indicated in this example. [X]
(1) ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
FOR all nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary below) [ ]
WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below [ ]
INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A
LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW:
Marilyn Garton Amato Anthony W. Liberati
Scott A. Braly Harry F. Radcliffe
Timothy R. Chrisman Howard E. Ritt
R. Michael Hall Robert C. Troost
Charles S. Jacobs
(2) IN HIS DISCRETION, THE PROXY IS AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON ALL SUCH OTHER
MATTERS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL
CORPORATION RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF HAWTHORNE FINANCIAL CORPORATION.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY BELOW.
PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN THIS PROXY AS
PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPE
PROVIDED.
Signature(s)_________________________________________ Date_______________, 1997
IMPORTANT: Please sign your name or names exactly as indicated on this Proxy.
Only one signature is required in the case of a joint account. If signing as an
attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give your full
title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by President
or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name
by an authorized person. Your signature acknowledges receipt of the Notice of
Annual Meeting and the Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting prior to
signing this Proxy.
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- FOLD AND DETACH HERE -
